Europe is becoming concerned about another natural gas crisis as Gazprom, the Russian gas supplier, reduced its supply of natural gas flowing west to Europe at the beginning of February, the Hospodárske Noviny daily reported, with Gazprom reportedly saying that it does not have enough gas to fulfil the increased demand of European countries hit with an arctic winter. Russian Prime Minister Vladimír Putin also said that it is more important for the company to first supply the Russian market, the daily wrote.
Gazprom admitted that it decreased the natural gas flowing to Europe by about 10 percent. Nevertheless representatives of the European Union said they do not regard the situation as critical at this time, the daily wrote.
The reduction of gas supplies has affected Slovakia, which received about 30 percent less gas than usual on February 3, the Sme daily reported. But the country’s main gas distributor, Slovenský plynárenský priemysel (SPP), announced there is no reason to be alarmed.
“The shortfalls are compensated by our own reserves,” said the spokesperson for SPP, Peter Bednár, as quoted by Hospodárske Noviny. “In the event of an extraordinary situation we are able to reverse the gas pipelines to pump gas from the west to the east,” he added, explaining that Slovakia would then receive natural gas from the Czech Republic or Austria.
Source: Hospodárske Noviny, Sme
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
