Ukrainian Fuel and Energy Minister proposing to set up CIS Energy Council

Ukraine's Fuel and Energy Minister Vitaly Gaiduk has proposed to set up an Energy Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States, CIS.

The proposal was made at the CIS energy ministers' summit that opened in Moscow on Wednesday.

Energy Minister of the Russian Federation Igor Yusufov approved the proposal, emphasizing that suchlike format of communication would allow to hold constant and efficient monitoring of the fuel and energy complex and work out joint decisions.

Ukraine's priority in cooperating with the CIS countries in the energy sphere is ensuring safety of energy production and transit, including transit of Russian gas via Ukraine, Gaiduk said. The major goals of the Ukrainian Energy Ministry include gradual integration in the European energy zone and implementation of innovation technologies, according to the minister.

Main transit export routes of Russian gas and oil go via Ukraine. Natural gas supplies both to domestic consumers and importers (85 per cent of export go to non-CIS countries) use 37,100 km of gas pipelines, 72 compressor stations and 13 underground gas storages.

Seven high-voltage transmission lines, exporting about 30 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity to East and Central European countries also go via Ukraine.