Naftogaz sends response to Gazprom over gas claims

NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine on Wednesday has sent a response to JSC Gazprom on paying for a shortfall of gas in 2012, the Ukrainian oil and gas monopoly said in a statement on Thursday.

"National Joint Stock Company Naftogaz of Ukraine in due course considered the appeal of JSC Gazprom regarding the payment for gas shortfalls in 2012. On January 30, 2013 Naftogaz of Ukraine has sent a response to Gazprom. All matters relating to the implementation of the contract shall be settled according to its terms," the report reads. However, no other details have been reported by Naftogaz. As reported, on January 30 Energy and Coal Industry Minister Eduard Stavytsky said that Naftogaz was fulfilling all its obligations under a contract with the Russian JSC Gazprom to import natural gas. Earlier this week Naftogaz of Ukraine confirmed that Gazprom demands that Ukraine pay $7 billion for a breach of gas purchase obligations. Meanwhile, Naftogaz stressed it is not going to pay this amount and hopes to transfer the proceedings to international arbitration. Later, Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara on a talk show on ICTV television channel said that Ukraine did not inflict direct losses on Gazprom over the purchase and consumption of Russian gas.