SLOVAKIA has the right to be the first country to receive potential compensation for a cut in Russian gas supplies, because it complied with all of its European Union obligations, Economy Minister Peter Pavlis said on public service RTVS’s show “O päť minút dvanásť” (Five Minutes to Twelve) on October 5.
Pavlis has tasked the ministry’s state secretary with holding talks with the European Commissioner for Energy Günther Oettinger on the issue of compensations from the EU, the TASR newswire reported.
Slovakia received 43.1 percent of its usual amount of gas from Russia on October 6 and 44.7 percent on October 5. According to Pavlis, the information that the recent cut in supplies is due to technical issues on Russia’s part is still valid.
“Obviously there’s a political battle involved as well,” said Pavlis, as quoted by TASR.
Pavlis further promised that prices for gas should go down by 5 percent in January or April 2015 while those who heat by gas should save around €100 per year. Meanwhile, Slovak gas utility SPP loses tens millions of Euros each year by supplying gas, according to the Sme daily.
(Source: TASR, Sme)
Compiled by Roman Cuprik from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
