Russian gas via Ukraine to Slovakia halted
Slovakia has vowed to ensure safe supplies of natural gas in the country after Ukraine halted transit of Russian gas to Europe on Wednesday. BRATISLAVA, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- The flow of Russian gas through Ukraine to Slovakia was stopped on Wednesday, while the country's largest gas supplier SPP has made steps to ensure the continuation of natural gas supplies. The flow of Russian gas through Ukraine was halted at the Velke Kapusany entry point on the Ukrainian-Slovak border, Slovak gas carrier Eustream announced on its website. The country's state-owned gas utility SPP said on the same day that it would continue safe supplies of natural gas as it has been preparing for the stoppage for a long time, local media said. According to SPP, they have purchased gas from non-Russian sources, diversified the gas transport routes, and guaranteed the current natural gas put in storage tanks about 20 percent more than a year ago, the News Agency of the Slovak Republic reported. SPP, with around 65 percent of the country's gas market share, noted that they will use other available sources to ensure sufficient quantities as well as the best price for their customers, adding, however, that any alternative will be significantly more expensive. Eustream, on its part, made clear that natural gas is transported at all interconnection points in accordance with customer nominations and it is fully prepared to meet its obligations to customers and ensure reliable transport. Slovakia's Regulatory Authority for Network Industries, the country's energy regulator, has published in early December energy prices for households in the year of 2025. Gas prices will witness an increase from 15 percent (gas used for cooking only) to 34 percent (gas used for cooking, heating, and the heating of water) if state energy assistance is not counted. SPP issued a declaration to President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen together with Eustream and other companies in Austria, Hungary, and Italy earlier this month, saying that gas transportation through the territory of Ukraine is "the most advantageous solution not only for gas consumers in Europe, but also for Ukraine itself." Sourcing gas from alternative routes would cost Slovakia an additional 220 million euros (229 million U.S. dollars) a year, and the difference is mainly caused by transit fees, said Vojtech Ferencz, chairman of the board of directors of the state-owned SPP. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico also warned in a letter to the European Union (EU) on Dec. 29, 2024, that tacit acceptance of Ukraine's decision to halt Russian gas transit will heighten tensions. In the open letter posted on social media, Fico described the move as wrong, irrational, and likely to trigger reciprocal measures. The Slovak prime minister also expressed the belief that ending the gas transit would harm the EU more than Russia. The European Commission said it would not support discussions on extending the gas transit contract or seek alternative solutions to maintain flows, and it has not been involved in any negotiations regarding the matter, according to media reports. It was reported that Russia's gas firm Gazprom stopped Russian gas supplies via Ukraine to the EU and Moldova at 6 a.m. Central European Time (0500 GMT) on Wednesday, after Ukraine refused to renew a five-year gas transit agreement with Russia which expires on Dec. 31, 2024. The suspension of transit was also confirmed by the Ukrainian Energy Ministry. 
