16.04.2014

Eustream offers Ukrainian partner assistance with reverse flow of gas supplies

On 15 April 2014, at the compressor station in Veľké Kapušany, top representatives of the company Eustream met with their colleagues from Ukrainian operator Ukrtransgaz. They discussed the technical solutions concerning reverse flow of gas supplies to Ukraine in the attendance also of Slovak Minister of Economy Tomáš Malatinský, Ukrainian Minister for Energy Yuriy Prodan and European Commission senior official Klaus-Dieter Borchardt.

On 15 April 2014, at the compressor station in Veľké Kapušany, top representatives of the company Eustream met with their colleagues from Ukrainian operator Ukrtransgaz. They discussed the technical solutions concerning reverse flow of gas supplies to Ukraine in the attendance also of Slovak Minister of Economy Tomáš Malatinský, Ukrainian Minister for Energy Yuriy Prodan and European Commission senior official Klaus-Dieter Borchardt.

Eustream signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which is the basic requisite for the official launch of technical, legal and other steps of a formal nature to secure the reverse flow of gas through the Vojany transmission line. The solution proposed by the Slovak side would allow the supply of gas to Ukraine in reverse flow mode already in October of this year, with a volume of 3.2 billion m³ a year. Later on, in March 2015, this capacity could be increased to as much as 8-10 billion m³ a year, which would greatly help Ukraine in its efforts to diversify gas transmission routes from the west.

The Ukrainian partners postponed the signing of the Memorandum, whereby they will return to the issue on 28.4.2014 at the next meeting, which will take place in Bratislava. The Ukrainian side would prefer to use the main transit pipeline, which is employed for transporting gas to the European Union.

Minister of Economy Tomáš Malatinský pointed out, however, that there is a contractual problem with that variant, because that route is to serve primarily for ensuring the supply of gas from Gazprom via Ukraine and Slovakia to Europe. “We want to help Ukraine and are ready to, but we have to do it in a way that Slovak and European interests are not sacrificed, because that gas flows to Europe. Even with all its alternative routes, Europe is still dependent on and needs the gas that comes to Europe via Eustream,” concluded the minister, noting that talks would continue.All News