Ukraine sees Azerbaijan as a key supplier of liquefied natural gas

To reduce its energy dependence on Russia, Ukraine plans to build LNG terminal on the Black Sea coast by 2015. According to the Ukrainian leadership, it will help diversify gas supplies and reduce its cost.

Preliminary estimates show construction of a terminal with a capacity of 10 billion cubic meters of gas per year will cost 2.5 billion dollars.

"Azerbaijan is one of the coveted and priority suppliers of liquefied natural gas for several reasons," Kaskiv noted.

Main advantage of Azerbaijan as a supplier is a short way of delivery, he explained.

"Due to this, one can count on mutually beneficial terms of cooperation with Azerbaijan," Kaskiv said.

In turn, Peter Miroshnikov, chief of "LNG-terminal” state-run enterprise, specialized at project development, added that not all of the gas will be supplied to the terminal under long-term contracts. "Part of the gas, 20-30% will be a spot deal," he said.

Besides Azerbaijan, Ukraine holds talks with Libya, Algeria, Qatar and Indonesia to supply LNG to the terminal. The volume of Russian gas supplies to Ukraine totaled 36.5 billion cubic meters this year.


/1news.az/