Only Naftogaz Can Supply Gas To Ukraine Starting March 1 - Tymoshenko

KIEV, Ukraine -- Starting from March 1, 2008, only Naftogaz Ukraina, the Ukrainian national energy provider, will be authorized to supply natural gas to the country, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said at a press conference on Saturday.

Ukraine's PM Yulia Tymoshenko
"We made a clear decision that, starting from March 1, not a single bit of gas will be supplied to anyone but Naftogaz Ukraina. There will be no UkrGazEnergo," Tymoshenko said.

UkrGazEnergo's registration as a business company will be annulled and the company will be stripped of the license to sell gas on March 1, she said.

"This company will cease to exist on March 1," Tymoshenko said.

Tymoshenko also said she was sure that there will be no restriction of gas supply to Ukraine on March 3rd. "I am sure there will be no gas supply suspension," she said.

Source: Interfax