Ostchem raises loan from Gazprombank to buy 5 bcm of Russian gas, says Firtash

Ostchem raises loan from Gazprombank to buy 5 bcm of Russian gas, says Firtash:

"Ukrainian businessman Dmytro Firtash has confirmed that his Ostchem holding raised a loan from Russia's Gazprombank to buy 5 billion cubic meters of gas from Gazprom.

"Yes, we [Ostchem] have raised a loan from Gazprombank... But you need to understand that this was not a favor from Gazprombank or Gazprom. Gazprom had a choice: either they will pump [the gas], or somebody else will," he said answering a question of Interfax-Ukraine in Donetsk on Tuesday.

Firtash added that Naftogaz Ukrainy has decided to purchase only so much gas as to cover domestic needs.

"So we solved not only our, Ukraine's problem, but also that of Russia, which needed to ensure the transit," he said."

'via Blog this'