Economy
Hungary resumes gas transmission to Ukraine
The company said 2.7 million cubic metres of gas per day will be imported from Hungary. Ukraine, which is trying to find alternatives to gas received from Russia, started natural gas imports from Europe in great volumes in 2014. Most of the gas was delivered from Slovakia and Hungarian gas in the amount of 600 mcm was placed in Ukrainian storage facilities last year.
Hungarian gas transmission company FGSZ Ltd. interrupted reverse gas transmission to Ukraine through the separate pipeline from Testvériség (Brotherhood) pipeline on 25 September 2014 for an indefinite period, saying it needed its pipeline capacities for raised gas imports as storage facilities were being filled up for the winter.
Previously it was delivering 3-4 mcm of natural gas per day to Ukraine, instead of the maximum capacity of 16.8 mcm. Then FGSZ said that up to 6,1 billion cubic metres of gas per year - 16.8 mcm per day - ha been delivered to Ukraine since March 2013. The company added, though that the capacity is not guaranteed, as it is "dependent on prevailing technical and commercial conditions."
Naftogaz Ukraine linked the suspension with a visit to Budapest of Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller, and "gas talks" between Ukraine and Russia with the participation of the EU.
Naftogaz stressed that the halt of gas supply was unexpected and incomprehensible, as there is a contract between Ukrtransgaz and FGSZ which regulates gas flow between Ukraine and Hungary in both directions. At the same time, Naftogaz specified that both operators have no standard interconnection agreement, although Ukrtransgaz has repeatedly asked such a contract be signed, in accordance with the requirements of the Energy Community.
The European Commission also sent a very clear message to Hungary on the matter.
Helene Kearns, Spokesperson for European Commissioner Vice-President Siim Kallas, told a daily press briefing on 26 September that "on this issue the message of the Commission is very clear. We expect all member states to facilitate reverse flows as agreed by the European Council, in the interest of a shared energy security."
On 29 December, FGSZ announced that it was "ready to start transmission of natural gas towards Ukraine" from 1 January 2015.
"FGSZ Ltd provides transmission of natural gas to Ukraine again depending on the relevant technical and commercial conditions, in interruptible way. The reason of the restarted gas transmission is information from network users: the increased demand of gas delivery at Beregdaróc 1400 (UA>HU) network point is not expected. As the result of it is possibility to re-set of Beregdaróc network point according to the conditions prior 25 September 2014," it added.
Hungarian gas transmission company FGSZ Ltd. interrupted reverse gas transmission to Ukraine through the separate pipeline from Testvériség (Brotherhood) pipeline on 25 September 2014 for an indefinite period, saying it needed its pipeline capacities for raised gas imports as storage facilities were being filled up for the winter.
Previously it was delivering 3-4 mcm of natural gas per day to Ukraine, instead of the maximum capacity of 16.8 mcm. Then FGSZ said that up to 6,1 billion cubic metres of gas per year - 16.8 mcm per day - ha been delivered to Ukraine since March 2013. The company added, though that the capacity is not guaranteed, as it is "dependent on prevailing technical and commercial conditions."
Naftogaz Ukraine linked the suspension with a visit to Budapest of Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller, and "gas talks" between Ukraine and Russia with the participation of the EU.
Naftogaz stressed that the halt of gas supply was unexpected and incomprehensible, as there is a contract between Ukrtransgaz and FGSZ which regulates gas flow between Ukraine and Hungary in both directions. At the same time, Naftogaz specified that both operators have no standard interconnection agreement, although Ukrtransgaz has repeatedly asked such a contract be signed, in accordance with the requirements of the Energy Community.
The European Commission also sent a very clear message to Hungary on the matter.
Helene Kearns, Spokesperson for European Commissioner Vice-President Siim Kallas, told a daily press briefing on 26 September that "on this issue the message of the Commission is very clear. We expect all member states to facilitate reverse flows as agreed by the European Council, in the interest of a shared energy security."
On 29 December, FGSZ announced that it was "ready to start transmission of natural gas towards Ukraine" from 1 January 2015.
"FGSZ Ltd provides transmission of natural gas to Ukraine again depending on the relevant technical and commercial conditions, in interruptible way. The reason of the restarted gas transmission is information from network users: the increased demand of gas delivery at Beregdaróc 1400 (UA>HU) network point is not expected. As the result of it is possibility to re-set of Beregdaróc network point according to the conditions prior 25 September 2014," it added.
