Ukraine could receive natural gas from Europe through Slovakia at the end of this year, European Union Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said.
“I expect that next spring the corridor for reverse gas transit through Slovakia will be open,” Oettinger said in a Kommersant-Ukraine interview published on Monday.
Kyiv already has the opportunity for reverse gas flow through Poland and Hungary, he said. The European Commission is working on giving Ukraine the opportunity to obtain gas through Slovakia and from liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals in the Mediterranean Sea and the Netherlands.
“We are working on increasing the number of routes that will make it possible for you to receive gas from LNG terminals in the Mediterranean Sea and the Netherlands. Actually, there was a problem that the government in Bratislava did not permit reverse, but that is the only instance. I am in contact with the Slovakian government. Ask [deputy Ukrainian prime minister] Yuriy Boiko. He’s convinced, he will say that he values the close work of the European Commission and Commissioner Oettinger personally on resolving this problem,” Oettinger said.
On the other hand, Oettinger said he doubts it will be possible to transit natural gas through Ukraine from Turkmenistan to European Union countries in the next few years.
“There are certain contacts, but I am sure that Turkmen gas definitely will not come to Europe this decade. Although we want to gain access to this source of gas, for which there are negotiations underway over the so-called ‘southern corridor’ through Azerbaijan. And, possibly, a further route will run through Ukraine. I know that there are direct contacts between your government and Ashgabat. We have also been brought into such work and inform you government on our bilateral contacts and agreements,” Oettinger said.
In light of OJSC Gazprom’s announced plans to substantially lessen the transit of Russian gas to Europe through the Ukrainian gas-transport system and disinclination to lower the price of Russian gas, Ukraine has begun to use its gas-transport capacity in reverse direction.
