KIEV, April 21 – The first stage of the modernization of the Ukrainian gas transport system will start this summer, First Deputy Prime Minister and Economic Development Minister Andriy Kliuyev said at a meeting with European Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs.

Kliuyev said that Ukraine has turned from making political statements to taking concrete actions, the press service of the first vice-premier reported.

As reported, in 2009 preliminary agreements on the allocation of $1.5-2 billion to upgrade the Ukrainian gas transport system were reached by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, World Bank, European Investment Bank, International Finance Corporation, European Commission and Ukraine, although their realization was postponed when gas sector reform was delayed in Kiev.