Against the background of the gas crisis in Europe, Ukraine is ready to offer the EU additional gas transit capacities.
This was announced at a briefing by the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of the country Alexei Danilov.
“We, by protocol decision of the National Security and Defense Council, together with the Cabinet of Ministers, NJSC Naftogaz, and the GTS Operator, determine special conditions for the transportation of additional volumes of natural gas through the GTS of Ukraine to the EU countries in the amount of at least 55 billion cubic meters per year," RIA Novosti quotes him ...
Danilov said that the current contract with Gazprom envisages pumping 40 billion cubic meters.
m through the GTS of Ukraine to Europe, however, according to him, the potential of the system allows the transit of large volumes, reports "Interfax-Ukraine".
In addition, Danilov said that Kiev will provide assistance to Moldova, where on October 22 a state of emergency was introduced due to the energy crisis.
According to him, Ukraine will supply gas to Chisinau on a refundable basis.
Danilov noted that the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmygal received a letter with a corresponding request from his Moldovan colleague Natalia Gavrilitsa.
“We believe that we can afford to do this, and we say that this gas will not be supplied for money, it will be transferred for a certain period so that Moldova will then return this gas to us,” he said.
At the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kiev is offering Gazprom a 50% discount on gas transit to Europe in excess of the volume provided for under the contract, Bloomberg reports.
According to Zelensky, Ukraine offers such additional opportunities to all potential transit countries.
He said that in Ukraine they would like to see European companies as clients, but “these additional opportunities are available to Gazprom as well.
Igor Yushkov, a leading analyst at the National Energy Security Fund, an expert at the Financial University under the Government of Russia, in a conversation with RT, noted that against the backdrop of the imminent start of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, the Ukrainian side is trying "with the last bit of strength" to start up additional volumes of gas transit through itself.
© Nikolai Ryutin / Nord Stream 2
The expert recalled that gas transit through Ukraine is still going on, and Gazprom is fulfilling a long-term contract that will be valid until 2024.
It is not profitable for Gazprom to pump over the contract through Ukraine.
He did it periodically, but now there is an opportunity to launch Nord Stream 2.
Ukraine understands that the gas pipeline is about to be launched, and that Europe is inclined to cooperate, as it needs gas.
So the Ukrainians are trying with the last bit of strength to cling to the opportunity to release additional volumes through themselves, ”the analyst explained.
The expert also said that Ukraine cannot give a discount on the transit of additional volumes, because the contract between Gazprom and the GTS operator does not say this: "How they want to arrange all this is completely incomprehensible."
In addition, Yushkov recalled that with an increase in transit through the Ukrainian gas transportation system, there is a risk of damage to the pipe due to its age and technical condition.
“There is a risk of damage.
The pipe is old and it is not clear what could happen.
And right now I don't want to take risks, because if at least one gas pipeline breaks now, it will be even worse.
Then we will be deprived of the opportunity to pump even those volumes that are being pumped now.
Therefore, the question is whether it is worth taking such a risk now, ”the expert concluded.
In September, the head of Gazprom, Alexei Miller, noted that the lag in pumping gas into underground storage facilities in Europe is very large, and therefore European countries will enter the autumn-winter season with a shortage of gas in storage facilities.
According to him, the strong lag in gas injection into UGS facilities and the growing demand for fuel have led to the fact that gas prices in Europe have broken records.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin drew attention to the risks of an increase in pumping volumes due to the fact that Ukraine "has not been repaired for decades".
“There, maybe, if you increase the pressure, it will burst altogether.
Europe will be completely deprived of this route, ”the president noted.
According to him, the deterioration of the Ukrainian gas transportation system is about 80%, but "no one wants to listen to or hear anything, everyone is just set to blame Russia for something."
On August 20, during a press conference after a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Putin also emphasized that Moscow does not refuse to transit gas through Ukraine, but at the same time must understand the volume of Russian gas purchases in Europe.
On October 6, during a meeting on energy development, Putin noted that Gazprom fully fulfills Russia's contractual obligations for deliveries through the Ukrainian gas transportation system.
He noted that, according to Gazprom, it would be more profitable for the company to pay a fine to Ukraine, but to increase the volume of pumping through the new systems, but urged not to do so.
“Firstly, there is no need to put anyone in a difficult position, including Ukraine, despite all the moments associated with Russian-Ukrainian relations today, and secondly, there is no need to undermine confidence in Gazprom as a reliable, absolutely reliable partner in all respects, ”the president said.