The Czech gas transportation system has sufficient capacity to replace Russian gas transit via Ukraine to Eastern European countries if supplies are interrupted, Czech Industry and Trade Minister Josef Sikela said in a letter to European Energy Commissioner Kadre Simson.
The minister noted that there are no signs so far that the transit agreement can be extended after its termination at the end of 2024, and the European Union will lose supplies amounting to 40-42 million cubic meters of gas per day. Sikela called for avoiding a situation where Europe continues to buy Russian gas under the guise of non-Russian gas.
Russian authorities have expressed their readiness to supply gas via Ukraine after 2024 and warned of the damage European consumers would suffer if transit were to be halted, but kyiv has refused to negotiate with Moscow on this issue and admitted that it would be an intermediary in the transit of gas from Kazakhstan.
In June, Bloomberg reported that European authorities were discussing gas supplies from Russia; options included the European side purchasing and injecting gas from Azerbaijan into Russian pipelines leading to Europe. Azerbaijan is already using its pipeline to Europe “at full capacity,” and the deal could also benefit Russia if it is presented as a swap that allows Moscow to supply gas to other countries, Bloomberg wrote.
Russia will be able to supply gas to Europe via other routes, for example through Turkish Stream or Blue Stream, the president said. Vladimir Putin.
“If Ukraine refuses this transit, well, we cannot force them.” – he pointed out.
The contract between Gazprom and Naftogaz on gas transit to Western and Central European countries through the territory of Ukraine provided for the pumping of 225 billion cubic meters. m of fuel, including 65 billion cubic meters. m in 2020 and 40 billion cubic meters each. m over the next four years.
After the Nord Stream explosion and the suspension of pumping through the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline, this transit line remained the only route for Russian gas supplies to Central Europe. Supplies via Turkish Stream and Blue Stream are intended for Turkey and the countries of Southern and Southeastern Europe.
By the end of summer, European gas storage facilities were 90% full, which was earlier than expected, just like last year.
“The accumulation of reserves at the level of 95-100% (around 100 billion cubic meters) by November will allow the EU to get through the warming period with minimal risks,” — said the director of research at the Institute for Energy and Finance (IEF) to RBC Alexey Belogoriev.
