Russian gas flows to EU stable
Earlier this week, Oettinger said in Vienna that Russia should consider a compromise gas pricing offer for deliveries to Ukraine and that he hoped to convene more talks in June.
By Martin Banks
BRUSSELS
The European Union has moved to reassure consumers that Russian gas flows to Europe via crisis-hit Ukraine are "stable."
It comes after Moscow cut off supplies to Kiev on Tuesday over outstanding debts.
Speaking in Brussels, Sabine Berger, spokeswoman for EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger, said, "So far the gas flows from Russia via Ukraine are stable and we expect all parties involved to respect their commitments to the European Union."
Earlier this week, Oettinger said in Vienna that Russia should consider a compromise gas pricing offer for deliveries to Ukraine and that he hoped to convene more talks in June.
“My appeal to the Russian partners is to consider whether the proposed compromise would not be acceptable for them with some adjustments,” he said.
Oettinger said a new round of trilateral gas talks between Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission was necessary.
The German official dismissed concerns that Europe will not have sufficient gas this winter after Moscow cut off gas to Ukraine on June 16 in a dispute over unpaid bills.
Oettinger said gas storage in Ukraine was "comfortable" at around 12 billion cubic metres which, he said, should also help to cushion the EU from any knock-on reduction in gas supplies shipped to the EU through Ukraine.
Ukraine’s annual gas demand is around 55 billion cubic metres so this is equivalent to nearly a quarter of annual demand.
Kiev, said Oettinger, intended to fulfill its gas transit commitments to Europe and he had no doubt that Russia would meet its gas supply pledges.
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said it would hold no further talks over gas until Kiev settled its bills.
Moscow has cut exports to Ukraine after attempts failed to broker an 11th-hour deal on future gas supplies with state-owned Russian giant Gazprom.
Novak and Gazprom CEO Aleksey Miller warned Kiev that Russia would redirect exports if Ukraine tries to "siphon off" European supplies.
Miller said Russia has plans in place to use other pipelines to deliver natural gas to European markets if Kiev tries to intercept some of the 185 million cubic metres Russia sends through Ukraine.
One route to Europe that bypasses Ukraine is the South Stream gas pipeline intended to deliver 64 billion cubic metres of gas to Europe.
South Stream is due to deliver its first gas to Bulgaria in December 2015.
Gazprom has long voiced concern over the risk of Ukraine as a gas transit zone, one reason they built the Nord Stream gas pipeline and are pressing for implementation of South Stream.
