Gazprom reduces the volume of gas supply to the Ukrainian gas transportation system in compliance with the instruction of the Federal Customs Service

"Today OAO Gazprom received a letter from the Federal Customs Service of Russia on the results of customs formalities control for export shipments of natural gas to European customers. The letter notes that accumulation of gas on the territory of Ukraine can result in decreased proceeds of OAO Gazprom from export deliveries and in violations of Russian currency legislation".

"The Federal Customs Service instructed OAO Gazprom to take immediate measures and optimize gas delivery routes and regimes for European consumers and other measures necessary to comply with customs and currency legislation of the Russian Federation.

"In this connection Gazprom decided to reduce the supply of gas to the gas transportation system of Ukraine by 65.3 million cubic meters, i.e. by the volume that accumulated on the territory of Ukraine from January 1 to 4, 2009. A corresponding notification was forwarded to Naftogaz Ukrainy. In the message Gazprom called on Naftogaz Ukrainy to compensate by supplying an equivalent volume of gas to the western border of Ukraine by 10:00 hours on January 6, 2009 at the expense of its own resources. Gazprom also demands Naftogaz Ukrainy to take immediate measures to provide for an uninterrupted transit of natural gas across the territory of Ukraine in compliance with the acting contract on the volumes and terms of Russian natural gas transit from 2003 up to 2013.

"Responsibility for possible changes in the gas transit regime and, consequently, for reduced supplies to European customers lies with Naftogaz Ukrainy."