German company starts gas deliveries to Ukraine

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http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/04/15/3149956/german-company-starts-gas-deliveries.html?sp=/99/261/



FILE - In this Nov. 14, 2013 file photo the headquarters of German power provider RWE is pictured in Essen, Germany. German utility company RWE AG says it has started supplying gas to Ukraine, which faces delivery cut-off from its main source Russia. RWE said in a statement that the reverse-flow deliveries via Poland began Tuesday, April 15, 2014 and foresee the supply of up to 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year.

German company starts gas deliveries to Ukraine
By FRANK JORDANS
Associated Press
April 15, 2014 Updated 7 minutes ago

BERLIN — German utility company RWE said Tuesday it has started sending natural gas to Ukraine, a move that could support the country if Russia acts on its threat to cut off supplies because of a massive debt for past deliveries.

The reverse-flow deliveries from Germany via Poland are largely symbolic for the moment, but could be ramped up to provide about a fifth of the country's gas needs.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine owes Russia $35.4 billion for gas — about 20 times more than Moscow had previously asked for. He said Russia may ask for Ukraine to start paying for gas in advance or face a shut-off.

About a third of the gas RWE AG will supply to Ukraine originally comes from Russia, said company spokesman Helmut Weintoegl. The rest comes from Norway, Britain, the Netherlands and Germany.