gas Prices in the EU in the case of stopping the transit of Russian gas at first can be doubled, predicts the Chairman of "Naftogaz of Ukraine" Andrey Kobelev.
"Crisis prices difficult to predict, but I think I will not be mistaken if I say that the price at first may be doubled. For example, in March 2018, when Gazprom refused to supply prepaid gas, the price increased by 80% in a few hours. The growth rates in the European Union will mean an increase in prices in Ukraine", - KOBOLEV declared in interview the online edition of the LEAGUE.Business.
however, in his opinion, Europe will pass this crisis scenario (full termination of transit through Ukraine) in the winter.
"by the way, not only this winter. Capacity of LNG terminals allow it to provide. However, then Gazprom will cede market share to other players," added the head of "Naftogaz".
as for Ukraine, then, according to him, she also can safely pass this winter, if not force majeure. Kobelev recalled that in 2014, the Hungarian operator without any explanation, cut off gas to Ukraine and made impossible the import using GIS "Beregdaroc".
however, in case of recurrence of such situation of force majeure will not happen, because in the Ukrainian UGS record gas reserves and Ukraine was ready to dispense with imports for the first quarter of 2020, said the head of "Naftogaz".
"We tried to prepare themselves technically and operationally to different situations," he said.
As reported, the validity of the 10-year contract for transit of Russian gas through Ukrainian territory expires on 31 December 2019. Futures on the most liquid in the EU, the Dutch TTF hub in February as at the end of 5 December was 15,88 Euro per MWh (4409 UAH / thousand cubic meters), March - 15,575 euros per MWh (4324 UAH / thousand cubic meters).
