Russia's state-controlled gas company OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS) has demanded its Ukrainian counterpart HAK Naftogaz Ukrainy stops taking more Russian gas than is stated in existing contracts, the Kommersant daily reports Monday citing sources familiar with the situation.
Sources said that Kiev is trying to accumulate additional fuel reserves for eventual price hikes on natural gas supplied by Gazprom. This excess gas is taken from supplies that transit through Ukraine and are destined for Europe.
Gazprom has said it will increase gas prices to Ukraine to $400 per 1,000 cubic meters from the current rate of $179.5. Such a hike would increase Ukraine's gas bill to Gazprom to $22 billion from today's $9.9 billion, the paper says.