Share

Europe at risk of being cut off from Russian gas

Moscow - Russia's gas giant Gazprom said on Wednesday that there was still a risk that Europe could see a drop in supplies of Russian gas piped via Ukraine this winter.

"The transit risks in Ukraine remain this winter," Gazprom chief Alexei Miller was quoted as saying after meeting the new European Commissioner for Energy Union, Maros Sefcovic in Moscow.

Miller suggested that there could be a problem with Ukraine reducing transit supplies to Europe due to Kiev's problems with paying for enough gas for its own citizens to get through the winter.

Twice in the past decade Europe faced gas shortages during the peak winter heating season after Ukraine, which was locked in price disputes with Russia, allegedly took supplies destined for Europe from pipelines that cross its territory.

Gazprom said Miller was referring to the peak period of energy consumption at the end of January and in February.

"Ukraine, due to financial difficulties, was not able to buy the necessary volume of Russian gas in November and December last year and significantly depleted its reserves of gas in underground storage," Miller said.

Gazprom said for its part that it had met its obligations on supplies to Ukraine under a gas accord reached in November in Brussels but that Ukraine was not complying with its terms.

Ukraine's state gas company Naftogaz "is acquiring gas in lower volumes than in the Brussels accord," Gazprom complained.

Ukraine is taking gas out of its underground stores at a rapid rate, leaving supplies that are "not enough to reliably get through the winter period," Gazprom said in a statement.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev warned earlier on Wednesday that Russia could demand rapid repayment of a $3bn loan to Ukraine while the pro-Kremlin Viktor Yanukovych was still president in December 2013.

Russia agreed to give Ukraine a $15bn loan but handed over only the first instalment of $3bn before Yanukovych was swept from power.


We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
18.94
-0.2%
Rand - Pound
23.90
-0.0%
Rand - Euro
20.44
+0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.34
+0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.1%
Platinum
908.75
+1.3%
Palladium
1,014.28
+1.3%
Gold
2,218.96
+1.1%
Silver
24.81
+0.7%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
68,346
+1.0%
All Share
74,536
+0.8%
Resource 10
57,251
+2.8%
Industrial 25
103,936
+0.6%
Financial 15
16,502
-0.1%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders