You're reading: Naftogaz: Gazprom controls pipeline section between Ukraine and Slovakia

Russia's Gazpromexport is informally determining the direction of gas pumping on the section between the Ukraine-Slovakia border and the Slovak gas metering station Velke Kapusany, Naftogaz Ukrainy head Andriy Kobolev told reporters in Kyiv.

“After lengthy negotiations [with Slovakia] we received an informal
response that actually this section between the border
[Ukraine-Slovakia] and the gas metering station [Velke Kapusany] is
virtually controlled by Gazpromexport, and it decides in which direction
to pump gas – to Europe or Ukraine,” he said.

Kobolev sa that this situation is due to the confidentiality of contracts between the Slovak and Russian sides.

“The option stipulated in the contracts is not in line with the
European legislation – both the second and the third energy packages.
Relations between the Slovak and Ukrainian gas transportation system
operators should be direct, without informal intermediaries,” he said.

The Naftogaz head also informed about the existing options of
organizing reverse gas supplies to Ukraine through Slovakia. According
to him, today the Ukrainian-Slovak section includes five pipeline
branches, one of which is mothballed, and loading in the rest in the
peak reaches 63 percent, and currently it is 33 percent.

“Ukraine proposes loading of three branches be increased, and the
fourth branch be used for reverse supplies. Nothing has to be built or
changed for this – everything is solved by switching the equipment,”
said Kobolev.