Ukraine to increase prices for electricity exports

Electric power from Ukraine will be exported starting October 1, 2006 at a minimum price of 3 cents. This fact will influence the price for electricity delivered to Moldova, the increase will constitute at least 20%. According to the Ukrainian press, the Minister of Economy from Kiev, Arsenii Iateniuk recommended to the “Power Company of Ukraine” and the “Ucrinterenergo” companies to raise the tariff clauses for the export contracts by 3 cents per kWh. Vladimir Antosii, the Minister of Industry and Infrastructure recently declared in front of the Parliament that Ukraine tries to force Chisinau to amend the agreements related to the price of electricity delivered to Moldova in the light of the price increase for natural gas. According to Antosii, the contract with Ukraine on electric power expires in January 2007, but the Ukrainian part already tries to increase the tariff by 3 cents at least per 1 kWh, justifying its request by the increase in price of natural gas. According to the minister, 51% of the Ukrainian electric power is produced in atomic power stations so that the request of the Ukrainian part is not grounded. At present Ukraine exports electricity to Belarus at a price of 2.1 cents/kWh, to Moldova – 2.52 cents, Poland – 2.6 cents, Bulgaria, Romania, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia – 3.9 cents.