OREANDA-NEWS. March 12, 2008. National joint stock company Naftogaz of Ukraine says pay may grow for the storage of fuel in Ukraine's underground deposits in case of a rise in the price of natural gas imported in Ukraine, after Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan increased gas prices from 2009, Naftogaz of Ukraine press secretary Valentyn Zemlianskyi says.

In his words, this is possible as a compensatory measure. On top he emphasized that an official confirmation has not yet come from the Central Asian countries on their increasing the gas price to the European level starting on 2009.

Russia's Gazprom gas monopoly published on Tuesday a statement that Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan would sell gas at European prices from 2009, without yet announcing the parameters.

On Wednesday, Naftogaz of Ukraine and Gazprom will continue in Moscow closed negotiations on gas issues. According to Zemlianskyi, the parties will discuss the algorithm of gas supply to Ukraine, and the algorithm of repayment of the debt for gas consumption.

In keeping with the directives of the President and the Prime Minister issued for Naftogaz of Ukraine, in 2008 Ukrainian users will consume exclusively Central Asian gas worth USD 179.5 for 1,000 cubic meters.