Ukraine resumes gas imports via the Transbalkan corridor
Photo: Ukraine has resumed gas imports via the Transbalkan corridor (facebook.com/gas.tso.ua)
Ukraine has resumed gas imports via the southern Transbalkan route after a sharp increase in Russian attacks on the country's gas and energy infrastructure, Reuters reports.
According to public data, Ukraine will receive 1.1 million cubic meters of gas from the Transbalkan route on Wednesday, after importing 0.78 million cubic meters on Tuesday. The route connects Ukraine with LNG terminals in Greece via Moldova, Romania, and Bulgaria.
Ukrainian energy consulting company ExPro reported last month that Greece's DEPA Commercial, D.Trading, a subsidiary of DTEK, and Switzerland's Axpo Trading had booked capacity to import gas from Greece to Ukraine at a daily volume of 0.6 million cubic meters.
Ukraine also imports about 23 million cubic meters of gas daily via other routes, including nearly 10 million cubic meters from Hungary, about 8 million cubic meters from Poland, and about 5 million cubic meters from Slovakia.
The Transbalkan route was not used in September and October, and before that, it only operated in July and August.
The pipeline was not in demand due to the high cost of gas transit through four countries. However, according to ExPro, the reduction of tariffs by Moldovan and Romanian operators helped to increase capacity bookings in November.
Gas imports to Ukraine
The National Commission for State Regulation in Energy and Utilities (NEURC) has simplified the transportation of gas to Ukraine via the Trans-Balkan corridor.
Ukraine is also negotiating with Azerbaijan on a long-term contract for gas supplies via the Trans-Balkan corridor.
In addition, in July, Naftogaz Ukraine signed its first agreement with SOCAR for the purchase of Azerbaijani gas. A test delivery of gas is being carried out via the Transbalkan corridor along the route Bulgaria-Romania-Ukrainian border.
