OREANDA-NEWS. November 29, 2007. If the Russian gas imported to Ukraine would cost $180 and more in 2008, it would lead to serious problem in the Ukrainian economy, most of all in the chemical industry, acting Economy Minister of Ukraine Anatoliy Kinah said in Kiev. He added that the question of natural gas price for Ukraine for 2008 would be closely correlated with the question of tariff on its transportation to Europe.

Ukraine can fully provide itself with internal energy resources, Kinah said. According to him, Ukraine possesses huge deposits of energy coal in the amount of 400 billion tonnes and that could be enough for 400 years. Moreover, Ukraine's got uranium reserves enough for 100-120 years. Kinah reiterated that Ukraine could lessen its dependence on foreign energy resources by reducing its yearly consumption by 15-20 billion cubic meters. In 2006 Ukraine's gas consumption was approx. 70 billion cubic meters.

The acting Minister noted that Ukraine today is one of the five world economies with greatest energy intensity. The major energy consumers in Ukraine are metallurgical and mining sector, chemical industry and heat-energy industry.

Commenting on the rise of Turkmen gas price for Russia (Russia buys gas from Turkmenistan and delivers it after that to Ukraine), Kinah noted that in his point of view Ukraine should come back to the system of clearing payments for Turkmen gas as well as restore the link between the price for the gas delivered by Russia and transit tariff.