04 December 2009, 10:45
Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, believes that Settlement of Gas Issues shall be transparent
V.Lytvyn made the above-mentioned statement in Rivne region after the opening of the gas pipeline in Sosnove township. The pipeline was laid with the assistance of the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
V.Lytvyn believes that supply of the village with gas "is crucial and vitally important". He stated that 80% of Ukrainian towns and 38% of villages are supplied with gas. However, this rate in Rivne region is lower.
"Supply of rural areas with energy resources shall become one of the crucial issues to be settled by the authorities after the political campaign, - the Head of the Parliament stated. Otherwise, the appeals for the people to return to villages will remain only slogans". He deems necessary "to conclude the construction of gas pipelines finished for 80%, calculating the funds necessary to fully supply the rural areas with gas".
The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine also deems necessary to settle the matter of preferential prices for consumed gas and electricity for the residents of rural areas, taking into account "their scanty earnings and pensions".
V.Lytvyn also calls for "settling the matters concerning owners of gas networks and regional gas department". "Gas networks shall enrich not particular individuals, but all the people, as it is the matter of the national security. Thus, they shall be transferred into public ownership", - he stated.
As far as the formation of prices for gas was concerned, the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stated: "The price for natural gas is considered as a great victory by the Ukrainian side; however, it is absolutely unaffordable for the country. The promises that the prices for gas for industry and housing utilities will not increase, are pharisaic. Otherwise, the authorities shall inform about the sources to cover the difference".
As far as the domestic gas production is concerned, V.Lytvyn stated that "all the community shall demand disclosure of information about the owners of gas wells". He also stressed: "All the wells shall be transferred into the public ownership". "The cost of one cubic meter of domestically produced gas totals 50 dollars; then it is sold at the world prices, the difference being pocketed by the smart businessmen", - V.Lytvyn stated.
The Head of the Parliament believes that domestically produced gas shall be used only for municipal services, and the industrial enterprises in the private ownership shall be authorized to sign the contracts on gas supply on their own.
"The gas issue shall be considered as a constituent of the relations with Russia. Otherwise, gas will be a political commodity", - V.Lytvyn summarized.
As it was reported, on Friday, the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stays with a working visit in Rivne region. He will meet the residents of Berezne and Kostopil towns and speak with the personnel of "Rivneazot" OJSC.
In the city of Rivne, V.Lytvyn will attend the celebration of the Local Self-Government Day.