OREANDA-NEWS. On October 31, 2007 Ukrainian Fuel and Energy Minister Yuriy Boyko, who was charged to complete gas talks with the Russian Gazprom in the near decade, said he would initiate the revision of the gas transit fee, reported the Official website www.kmu.gov.ua.

Yuriy Boyko said the Ukrainian Government will seek to reach the balance of interests with Russian partners in the issue and this approach "is taken with understanding by partners".

By way of answering questions of journalists on whether there is a provision on unchanged transit fee in the intergovernmental agreements, Boyko said the contracts provide for regulating gas transit fee.

The gas transit fee of 1,6 USD per 1,000 cubic meters per 100 km was set through 2011 with the signed additional protocol to the contract between NaftoGaz of Ukraine and Gazprom on January 4, 2006. Some 75% of the transit of Russian natural gas to European countries or over 120 bn. cu. m. annually comes on Ukraine.