MOSCOW, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Russia and Ukraine have agreed on a natural gas supply deal, under which Ukraine will raise its payments to Russia by 38 percent in 2008, Russia's gas giant Gazprom said Tuesday.
The move is considered a relief from the anxiety over a possible natural gas shortage in Europe.
The price of natural gas will be raised to 179.5 U.S. dollars per 1,000 cubic meters from 130 dollars this year, according to the agreement signed between Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller and Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuri Boiko.
The fee for transporting Russia's natural gas to Europe via Ukraine will also rise to 1.7 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters from 1.6 dollars.
A large proportion of Ukraine's natural gas consumption, which amounts to approximately 80 billion cubic meters per year, is imported from Russia.
Gazprom cut the natural gas supply to Ukraine for several days over a price dispute in early 2006, posing a threat to many European countries.
The company accounts for a quarter of the European Union's natural gas consumption, 80 percent of which is transported via Ukraine.
The move is considered a relief from the anxiety over a possible natural gas shortage in Europe.
The price of natural gas will be raised to 179.5 U.S. dollars per 1,000 cubic meters from 130 dollars this year, according to the agreement signed between Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller and Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuri Boiko.
The fee for transporting Russia's natural gas to Europe via Ukraine will also rise to 1.7 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters from 1.6 dollars.
A large proportion of Ukraine's natural gas consumption, which amounts to approximately 80 billion cubic meters per year, is imported from Russia.
Gazprom cut the natural gas supply to Ukraine for several days over a price dispute in early 2006, posing a threat to many European countries.
The company accounts for a quarter of the European Union's natural gas consumption, 80 percent of which is transported via Ukraine.
