Slovakia prepares pipeline for reverse supply to Ukraine

Slovakia is preparing a line for reverse natural gas supplies to Ukraine, Slovak Minister of Foreign Affairs Miroslav Lajcak stated after talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

“Ukraine has asked us to help diversify gas supplies, we have done Ukraine a favour, and we are currently preparing such a line. We consider it normal and useful,” he said.

“As regards the supplies themselves, this is another operation. Our task is to supply. Who will pay — this is another issue,” Lajcak added. “It is important for us that this commercial operation conforms with international rules.”

“I would like to stress that in our negotiations with Ukraine with participation of the European Commission, we emphasised the non-acceptance of violating the agreements that already existed,” he said.

Slovakia’s approach towards starting reverse gas flows to Ukraine does not run counter to the agreements with Russia, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said.

“The Slovak government’s position does not violate the agreements with Gazprom and with the Russian government that is why we have no claims,” he said after talks with Slovak counterpart Miroslav Lajcak on Monday.

The pipeline to transport gas to Ukraine via Slovakia should be ready for pumping at full capacity starting in September, which would help provide some gas if Russia cuts supplies.

EU member Slovakia and Ukraine signed a deal at the end of April 2014 that allows the European Union to send a limited amount of gas to Ukraine, less than Kiev had hoped for to cushion the blow should Russia turn off the gas.

"With 90 - 95% probability, we should be able to ship 8 - 10 billion m³/yr already as of September 1, depending that certain technical preconditions are met on both the Slovak and Ukrainian side," said Tomas Marecek, chairman of Eustream, the Slovak pipeline operator.

The company wants to evaluate bids for booking the pipeline's capacity by the end of June, Marecek said, although initial bids will be for less than full capacity and instead for flows that Eustream will be certain it can transport.

To help meet its annual consumption of about 55 billion m3, Ukraine had been pushing to get up to 30 billion m³ by reversing flows on pipelines that are currently being used to import Russian gas into Slovakia. The Slovak government opposed such a move because of worries over contracts.

Under the current deal, Slovakia will make technical adjustments to an old, unused pipeline.

Gazprom has warned it will not supply Ukraine with gas from June unless Kiev pays at least US$ 2.237 billion out of a debt of over US$ 3.5 billion.

Edited from various sources by Elizabeth Corner

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/20052014/slovakia_prepares_pipeline_for_reverse_supply_to_ukraine/