(Bratislava) – Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico recently revealed that Russian President Vladimir Putin assured him that Russia would find alternative ways to deliver gas to Slovakia after the expiration of the gas transit contract between Russia and Ukraine. Fico’s statement comes amidst growing concerns over gas supply routes and the financial implications of this shift.
In a meeting with Putin in Moscow on December 22, Fico discussed the future of Slovakia’s gas supply, particularly after the transit deal between Russia and Ukraine ended. The details of how the gas will be delivered remain unclear, but Fico emphasized that Putin assured Slovakia would receive gas “somehow.” Fico noted that while Slovakia currently has sufficient gas in storage to meet domestic demand, it is still seeking alternative routes for the continued supply.
Fico mentioned that gas could potentially be delivered through the southern flow, which involves the TurkStream pipeline that runs through Türkiye. However, this pipeline has limited capacity, raising concerns over its ability to meet Slovakia’s needs in the long term. Despite this, Putin reassured Fico that Russia would honor its commitments and ensure the gas deliveries, although the specifics of the supply routes remain uncertain.
Fico also suggested that gas could be supplied through Slovakia’s pipeline connections to other European countries, particularly in Western Europe. However, he pointed out that the rise in gas prices across Europe, partly due to the disruption of approximately 13.5 billion cubic meters of gas that previously passed through Ukraine, had resulted in significant financial losses. This included around 3 billion cubic meters that would have been used for Slovakia’s consumption.
The Slovak Prime Minister also shared that an agreement to continue gas supplies through Ukraine was close, involving a change of ownership for Russian gas before entering Ukraine. This agreement, which would have involved Azerbaijan or Slovakia’s gas importer SPP, was ultimately blocked by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the December EU summit.
Earlier, Slovakia’s Ministry of Economy stated that halting Russian gas transit through Ukraine would not result in a gas shortage in the country. However, it would have financial consequences, with Slovak gas companies expected to pay significantly more for gas transit from Western Europe, around 177 million euros more, compared to the previous route through Ukraine.
Be First to Comment