Ukrainian gas transport system could be assessed at about USD 30 billion, an independent expert, former spokesman for Naftogaz of Ukraine Valentyn Zemliansky, has said.

"I think that the assessed value will be between USD 20 billion and USD 40 billion, or about USD 30 billion," he said.

Zemliansky said that the real price of the gas transport system is USD 40 billion. "Gazprom has recently stated that Ukraine estimates its gas transport at USD 20 billion. In fact, they called the figure of USD 20 billion, because Russians need to invest such an amount in South Stream that they want to build, bypassing Ukraine. My opinion is the following: the Belarusian gas transport system was assessed at USD 5 billion, and our system is five times more expensive, plus it has underground gas storage facilities, therefore, its price is USD 40 billion," the expert said.

As reported, Ukraine last week announced a tender to choose an assessor of the price of its gas transport system.

Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuriy Boiko said that after the assessment is made, Ukraine would provide concrete proposals to its European partners for their share in a consortium to manage the Ukrainian gas transport system.

As UKRINFORM reported, Ukraine expects to achieve consensus in negotiations with Russia on the creation of a trilateral consortium to manage the Ukrainian gas transport system.

Ukrinform