Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statement about increasing gas transit through Ukraine is not true. Since the beginning of the year, its volumes have fallen significantly. This was stated by the Chairman of the Board of NJSC “Naftogaz of Ukraine” Yuri Vitrenko, on the air of the program “Freedom of Speech” Savik Shuster.
Kyiv. Ukraine. Ukraine Gate – October 17, 2021 – Ukraine News
“If we look at the daily transit volumes, we will see that they have actually fallen twice. At the beginning of the year, it was 180 million cubic meters per day, now it is about 80 million cubic meters, ”Vitrenko said.
Vitrenko noted that Vladimir Putin’s statement about the deterioration of the Ukrainian GTS is also untrue.
Vladimir Putin said that Russia was sending as much gas to Europe as its partners asked. However, to increase transit through Ukraine is “dangerous”, as allegedly “the wear of the pipe there is 80%” and it can “burst”.
Serhiy Makogon, Chairman of the GTS Operator of Ukraine, said that Russia’s Gazprom had reduced the volume of gas transit through the Ukrainian gas transmission system three times since the beginning of this year.
In September 2021, gas transit through Ukraine exceeded 3 billion cubic meters. m, while in September 2021 Russia’s Gazprom booked only 4% of the additional guaranteed transit capacity. Even the guaranteed 15 million cubic meters were not booked for October. m of additional capacity.
The Russian company Gazprom has stopped the transit of natural gas through Ukraine to Hungary since October 1. This happened after Hungary signed a long-term contract with the Russian company Gazprom for the supply of gas bypassing Ukraine.
In Ukraine, they said they were surprised and disappointed by this decision. The Ukrainian side promised to apply to the European Commission to assess the compliance of the new Hungarian-Russian gas agreement with European energy legislation. OGTSU head Serhiy Makogon stated that after the contract with Gazprom, the operator of Ukraine’s gas transmission system expects a significant reduction or complete cessation of transit to Hungary via Ukraine.
Hungary has reacted harshly to criticism of official Kyiv for its long-term contract with Russia’s Gazprom. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Siyyarto said that Ukraine was interfering in the country’s internal affairs.
The countries summoned each other’s ambassadors to their foreign ministries. Later, the head of the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba called on journalists not to stir up emotions now.
At the same time, Moscow said that the new long-term contract between Hungary and Russia’s Gazprom to supply gas to the country bypassing Ukraine allegedly “does not violate anyone’s rights,” and “Kyiv has no right to interfere in this aspect of Moscow-Budapest bilateral relations.”
The current transit agreement between Naftogaz Ukrainy and Russia’s PJSC Gazprom was concluded at the end of 2019 for a period of five years. It provides for Gazprom’s reservation of a transit capacity of 65 billion cubic meters. m (178 million cubic meters per day) in 2020 and 40 billion cubic meters. m (110 million cubic meters per day) in 2021-2024.
Read Also: Gazprom Did Not Resume Gas Transit Through Ukraine to Hungary
Source: Ukrgate
