Russian gas monopoly Gazprom has once again violated the terms of the contract on ensuring required levels of gas pressure in the Ukrainian gas transport system (GTS), which undermines stable gas transit to the European Union, National Joint Stock Company Naftogaz of Ukraine reported.
As of 08:00 on Tuesday, the pressure on Sudzha gas-measuring station fell to a record low, to 49.7 atm, instead of 60 atm under the contract, according to the report.
It is noted that Gazprom also violates the terms of the transit contract regarding a maximum level of daily fluctuations in applications for exit point gas selection, which should not exceed 4.5% at Uzhhorod exit point, but on some days in February, this figure was double the norm.
In addition, in certain periods in February, the quality of gas supplied from Russia to the Ukrainian GTS did not meet physical and chemical parameters laid down in the contract.
”Gazprom`s systematic failure to comply with the transit contract creates risks for uninterrupted gas supplies to Europe,” Naftogaz said.
At the same time, the company noted that despite the obstacles artificially created by the Russian side, Ukraine continues to ensure stable gas supply to Europe. All applications of importers of Russian gas are fulfilled on time.
”As part of a rapid response mechanism, the European Commission has received a message about the sudden decrease in pressure at the Sudzha gas-measuring station. Naftogaz of Ukraine and the European Commission are concerned over the situation that arose as a result of non-fulfillment by the Russian side of its contractual obligations and expect that Gazprom provide relevant explanation and fix the situation to ensure stable gas supplies to European consumers,” the report reads.
Earlier, the national oil and gas holding Naftogaz of Ukraine had reported continuous violations by Gazprom of the transit contract conditions on ensuring the minimum pressure of gas on its entry to the Ukrainian gas transport system.
Naftogaz assumed that Russian company is unable to stably maintain the pressure in the system at the required level due to the poor state of part of the Russian gas transportation infrastructure.
In mid-December, Ukrtransgaz reported that of the 30 days of November, contractual pressure on the gas-measuring station Pisarevka was within the norm for only 12 days, and at the station Sudzha it was consistently below the contractual terms.
According to the transit contract between Ukraine and Russia, Gazprom is obliged to annually pump via Ukraine no less than 110 billion cubic meters of natural gas. In January-November 2016 the transit increased by 22% compared to the same period last year — to 73.5 bcm.
See also: No peace deal with Gazprom to come in Stockholm arbitration – Naftogaz CEO
