KIEV, Ukraine, March 22 (UPI) -- Kiev is eyeing legislation that would let Russian gas giant Gazprom and European companies join Ukrainian counterparts to operate gas pipelines, officials said.
Naftogaz, the national utility, is under fire for its management of the natural gas system. Current Ukrainian law prohibits foreign entities from holding interests in the national gas transit system.
Gazprom in 2009 cut gas supplies briefly to Ukraine because of contract and debt disputes. Meanwhile, the Kiev economy is struggling to emerge from the economic recession that hammered world markets in 2009.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Andriy Kluyev said the government is considering a measure that would let Gazprom and European companies join Ukraine in operating gas pipelines, The Moscow Times reports.
He added that it was "no secret" that Kiev wanted to review its gas contracts with Gazprom as the country struggles with its economy.
"Our goal is to review the unfavorable contract that is in place," he said.
A 2009 contract places strict requirements on Naftogaz. Access to the national pipeline grid is a point of leverage for Kiev, the report added.
The 2009 disruption left much of Europe in the cold for a week as 80 percent of all Russian gas bound for Europe travels through Soviet-era pipelines in Ukraine.
