Ukraine looks to clinch 3-bcm Uzbek gas deal

Interfax June 25 Ukraine is looking for a deal with Uzbekistan for 3 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas, Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich announced at a Friday press conference in Tashkent. "I think we will prepare - on the level of the corresponding corporations that work with these questions - a contract for three billion cubic meters of [gas] shipments and will be streamlining the system for settlements," Yanukovich said at the 6th meeting of the bilateral inter-governmental cooperation commission. He did not say what time period the presumptive contract might encompass. As to improving relations between the two countries as regards gas supplies, Yanukovich noted, "Where earlier there was barter, we will now be changing over solely to a money system for mutual settlements." To a question as to the possibility of increasing the overall shipment volume, Yanukovich said this is being negotiated at both the government level and with the Uzbek president.