Last Saturday, the “Volodymyr-Volynskyi – Ustyluh – Republic of Poland” gas pipeline was put into operation in the border town of Ustyluh. \n \nThe newly built gas pipeline became the second route in Ukraine for the export and transit of gas to Poland. Until recently, its export supplies across the Buh were carried out only through a transfer point in Lviv Oblast. The approximate cost of the new gas pipeline is UAH 68.9 million. Its construction was envisaged by a memorandum between “Naftogaz Ukrainy” and the Polish state oil and gas company, which was signed in April 2004. The construction of the “Ustyluh-Hrubieszów” gas pipeline itself began a year before that, and two years later it was ready. It is important that the latest technological equipment meeting European standards was used, as well as the fact that 13 settlements of the district will now have the opportunity to receive gas. \n \nFor this occasion, distinguished guests and many journalists from the capital arrived for the celebration. Opening the celebration, the head of the Volodymyr-Volynskyi district council, Mykola Suprunovych, noted that the initiators of the start of construction of the gas pipeline were the leaders of the Volodymyr-Volynskyi district and Hrubieszów county. This initiative was supported by NJSC “Naftogaz Ukrainy” and the Polish Oil and Gas Mining. The design work was carried out by the enterprise OJSC—“VNIPI transgaz”. Timely financing of the construction was carried out by the main gas pipeline administration “Lvivtransgaz”. \n \nAll those involved in the construction of the international gas main—and there were more than 15 organizations among the contractors—were thanked by the chairman of the board of NJSC “Naftogaz Ukrainy”, Oleksii Ivchenko, his colleague from Poland Marek Kosowski, who heads the oil and gas company, and the director of the branch of the state company “Ukrtransgaz”, Mykhailo Derkach, emphasizing that this is a significant step in the development of good-neighborly economic ties and in enhancing European integration. The first deputy head of the regional state administration, Bohdan Shyba, presented to the construction participants letters of thanks and certificates of honor from the regional state administration and regional council for active conscientious work, and the Lublin voivode Andrzej Kurowski presented commemorative gifts. Letters of thanks and awards from the district state administration and district council were presented by the head of the Volodymyr-Volynskyi district state administration, Yurii Mykhalets. According to good Ukrainian custom, Oleksii Ivchenko, Marek Kosowski and Mykhailo Derkach cut the ribbon, and the rite of consecration of the gas distribution station was performed by Fathers Fedir and Andrii from Ustyluh and Ivan from Hrubieszów. The celebration concluded with a performance by the amateur artistic group “Chervona Kalyna” from the city of Lutsk. \n \nAt a press conference, Oleksii Ivchenko stated that for Ukrainians the winter will pass without problems, and the gas balance in the state is stable. There is not and will not be a gas deficit in Ukraine, he emphasized, advising not to listen to any “scare stories,” which are nothing other than pre-election PR by certain claimants. In the near future, a long-term agreement on gas supply from Turkmenistan is to be signed. An agreement signed with the Russian “Gazprom” is in effect until 2013. As for an increase in the gas price, there will be none this year, and after that everything depends on the market. \n \nAlla LISOVA