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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Russia opens gas taps to Europe | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Russia's Gazprom has resumed gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine, raising hopes of an end to weeks of disruption. | |
| A company spokesman told the BBC that full pressure in the pipeline system would be reached by mid-afternoon local time (approximately 1200 GMT). | A company spokesman told the BBC that full pressure in the pipeline system would be reached by mid-afternoon local time (approximately 1200 GMT). |
| The move comes after the Russian and Ukrainian prime ministers agreed a new contract on the price of gas. | The move comes after the Russian and Ukrainian prime ministers agreed a new contract on the price of gas. |
| Millions of Europeans have been without heat after the failure to renew the old contract, which expired on 1 January. | Millions of Europeans have been without heat after the failure to renew the old contract, which expired on 1 January. |
| See map of countries hit by gas dispute | See map of countries hit by gas dispute |
| EU states import a quarter of their gas from Russia and 80% of supplies come via Ukraine. Almost 20 countries in Europe have been affected by the dispute. | EU states import a quarter of their gas from Russia and 80% of supplies come via Ukraine. Almost 20 countries in Europe have been affected by the dispute. |
| 'European' rates | 'European' rates |
| Gazprom spokesman Boris Sapozhnikov said the gas flow was restarted at around 1030 Moscow time (0730 GMT) on Tuesday. | |
| He said EU-led monitors would track the flow of the gas being pumped into Ukraine. | He said EU-led monitors would track the flow of the gas being pumped into Ukraine. |
| Ukrainian gas officials confirmed that they were receiving gas. Once pressure in Ukrainian pipes was high enough, "we will be able to resume transit" to Europe, a spokeswoman for pipeline operator Ukrtransgaz told the AFP news agency. | |
| Officials said the it could take up to 36 hours to pump gas across Ukraine, before it starts reaching customers further down the pipeline. | |
| Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko earlier held talks with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Moscow after the two countries' gas companies, Gazprom and Ukraine's Naftogaz, succeeded in hammering out the final details. | |
| Under the deal they outlined, Ukraine will start paying for Russian gas at "European" rates from 2010 while equally charging Russia "market" rates for transit. | Under the deal they outlined, Ukraine will start paying for Russian gas at "European" rates from 2010 while equally charging Russia "market" rates for transit. |
| Ms Tymoshenko says Kiev will pay less than $250 (£175) per 1,000 cubic metres of Russian gas in 2009, although final confirmation of the agreed price has not been issued by either Ukraine or Russia. | Ms Tymoshenko says Kiev will pay less than $250 (£175) per 1,000 cubic metres of Russian gas in 2009, although final confirmation of the agreed price has not been issued by either Ukraine or Russia. |
| Last year, Ukraine paid $179.50 per 1,000 cubic metres, while the current average European price is more than $400. | Last year, Ukraine paid $179.50 per 1,000 cubic metres, while the current average European price is more than $400. |
| Back to top | Back to top |