Ukraine revises plan for Russian gas imports in 2014

Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yury Prodan said here Wednesday that his country is planning to import 15 percent less natural gas from Russia in 2014 than previously expected. "We plan to buy 27 to 30 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia," Prodan told reporters during a media briefing. Prodan expressed his hope that Moscow would not impose any sanctions on Kiev for failing to import gas volumes agreed in the beginning of the year. In mid-January, Ukraine's state-run energy firm Naftogaz and Russia's gas giant Gazprom signed an amendment to the gas supply contract, pegging the price of gas at 268.5 U.S. dollars per 1,000 cubic meters. Following the deal, then Energy Minister Eduard Stavytsky said Kiev plans to buy 33 to 35 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia in 2014. On March 1, Moscow said Ukraine might lose its gas discount due to its outstanding gas debt, which reached some 1.5 billion dollars. Last year, Ukraine imported about 30 billion cubic meters of gas, of which about 28 billion came from Russia.