Ukraine accused Gazprom of blackmail over refusal to increase gas transit | News from Germany about Ukraine

Ukraine accused Gazprom of gas blackmailing Europe because of the refusal of the Russian concern to increase the transit of fuel through Ukrainian pipelines, despite the sharp rise in gas prices in Europe. The head of the Ukrainian GTS Operator Sergei Makogon, in a post posted on Facebook on Monday evening, December 20, expressed the opinion that in this way Russia is trying to accelerate the certification of the controversial German-Russian gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 (SP-2).

“Despite sky-high prices for gas in the EU ($ 1,800 per thousand cubic meters), available free transit capacities, and despite the statements of the head of the Russian Federation on increasing supplies to the EU, Gazprom did not book additional capacities for January. plans to increase transit by more than 109 million cubic meters per day, which is stipulated by the existing contract. The conclusions are obvious – the blackmailing of Europe continues with the aim of the soonest certification of Nord Stream 2, “wrote Makogon.

Gazprom has not yet commented on the allegations. On December 20, it became known that the Russian concern refused to book additional capacities for gas transit through Ukraine in January.

Cancellation of booking additional capacities

The RBP and GSA Platforms hosted an auction in addition to a long-term contract for the reservation of 40 billion cubic meters of transit capacity. m per year. The Ukrainian operator offered transit capacities of up to 9.8 million cubic meters for January. m per day through the Sudzha gas distribution station and up to 5.2 million cubic meters. m per day through Sokhranovka, but Gazprom did not take advantage of this offer.

For four months now, Gazprom has not booked additional capacities for gas transit through Ukraine. At the same time, from the beginning of the year to December 15, the company transported 40 billion cubic meters through Ukraine. m of gas, thereby fulfilling its obligations for 2021 in full.

A week and a half ago, Makogon said that he did not rule out the cessation of gas transit from Russia through the Ukrainian territory in winter. “This is a political issue, not an economic one. We see that in recent months pressure on Ukraine has increased in all directions. This is the termination of the export of thermal coal to Ukraine from Russia, and the advancement of troops to the border, and the blocking of coal export from Kazakhstan. these events, it is possible that the transit of gas through Ukraine will also be stopped, “he said then.

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