KYIV, Aug 15 – Ukrainian Energy Exchange (UEE) has debarred SOCAR Ukraine Trade House LLC and Central Gas Supplying Company from the bids for an attempt of manipulation of gas prices, the exchange reported on its website.

According to a report, in the course of natural gas bids on August 13, it was revealed that the aforementioned companies carried concerted purposeful actions to alternately raise the price of one of the lots of Naftogaz Trading LLC [gas supply company]. As a result of such actions of the bidders, the price of natural gas could increase by 34.8% of the initial one, and there will be no chance to sell the rest of the lots of seller. In this regard, the exchange stopped bidding and canceled the results for the specified lot.