Gazprom to increase gas transit through Ukraine
Gazprom has applied for an increase of gas transit through Ukraine to 315 million cubic meters per day, according to the press service of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine.
Gazprom’s daily application for increase has grown by 47 million cubic meters in the last week. Naftogaz is ready to ensure the implementation of the enlarged applications in full amount, although such significant fluctuations in the volumes of transit are not specified in the contract terms between Naftogaz and Gazprom.
Naftogaz noted that the maximum capacity of the Ukrainian gas transit service towards Europe is over 400 million cubic meters per day. The requested volume of the natural gas transit by the Russian company has grown due to the annual planned repair of the Nord Stream pipeline, which will last until September 22.
As underlined in the company-operator Nord Stream AG, the timing of the gas pipeline was agreed with the partners in advance.
According to Ukrtransgaz, gas transit to Europe via Ukraine in January-August increased by 23.4% compared with the same period last year, to 61.95 billion cubic meters. This is the largest volume since 2011.
As reported, the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko proposed to change the transit principle and provide services to transport Russian gas through Ukrainian territory, not to Gazprom, but to its European customers.