UKRAINE: Timoshenko puts blame for gas explosion in Dnepropetrovsk upon Russian Vekselber

Leader of BYT, born in Dnepropetrovsk, Yulia Timoshenko puts the blame for explosion of gas at an apartment block in the city of Dnepropetrovsk upon owners of Dneprogaz Company, a REGNUM correspondent quotes as saying it to reporters yesterday.

“The government is to blame by 300%. Those are to blame as well who own the city gas company, Dneprogaz. And they will be taken to the account,” she said. According to Timoshenko, Dneprogaz has recently reduced its technical equipment and staff.

Yulia Timoshenko also informed that today, apart from rendering urgent assistance to people, it is necessary either to return such companies to the state ownership, or to establish such technical procedure legally that would not allow private owners of the companies economizing on the hardware. The BYT leader informed that the law would be prepared “exactly from tomorrow.”

Dneprogaz is not a state-run company; it was privatized as early as in mid-90s. The company is controlled by Complex Energy Systems Company (Russia) belonging to Russian Viktor Vekselberg.

Via: REGNUM
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EUROASIA: Ukraine turns to be owing $2 billion to Gazprom

Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov said that the debt of Ukrainian companies for the Russian gas to Gazprom is $ 2 billion, and offered to settle the debt in the amount of $1,2 billion by transferring ownership of the gas, which is now in the underground storage facilities of RosUkrEnergo, to the Russian gas monopoly.

Viktor Zubkov made the statement at joint briefing and with Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich in Moscow yesterday, reports a REGNUM correspondent.

“These reserves will be sent to implementing of Gazprom export obligations as well,” Zubkov added.

He also said that under the agreement, the remaining $929 million of the debt would be repaid through own capital of UkrGazEnergo and Ukraine. The head of the Russian government stressed that he expected full repayment of the Ukrainian debt for gas to NaftogazGazprom till November 1, fully provided with adequate control by the Ukrainian authorities.

Earlier, Gazprom said the amount of the debt was $1.3 billion.

Via: REGNUM

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MIDDLE EAST: Iran in search of new gas reserves

The National Iranian Oil Company has launched a major gas exploration operation in two of the country's northeastern provinces.

The company has kicked off its new exploration project in the provinces of Northern Khorasan and Khorasan Razavi, with the aim of finding new gas reserves in the region.

According to recent reports, extensive research has been carried out in the area, including two-dimensional seismic surveys and non-seismic geophysical studies.

If successful, the operation will lead to the drilling activities in the region, an expert said. Up to 7,700,000 Euros have been invested in the project, he added.

At the moment, around 89 thousand families in the province of Northern Khorasan benefit from household gas.

Via: PressTV

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