EU: Ukraine warns of emergency risk in gas pipeline system

BRUSSELS, Mar 2 (PRIME) -- Ukraine has warned the European Commission of a possible emergency in the gas pipeline system, spokeswoman for the authority Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said at a briefing on Friday.

“In general concerning the situation, the Ukrainian authorities have warned us of a possible emergency in the gas transportation system of Ukraine. We have taken this into consideration. We are serious about these concerns. We are ready to cooperate with the Ukrainian and the Russian authorities,” Itkonen said.

On Thursday, Deputy CEO of Russian gas producer Gazprom Alexander Medvedev said that Gazprom had sent payment from Ukrainian energy holding Naftogaz Ukrainy for March gas supplies back and would not start the shipments because a supplementary agreement to the contract was not coordinated. Naftogaz Ukrainy CEO Andrei Kobolev said that Ukraine can experience gas shortages.

Itkonen said that supplies of Russian gas to Europe and the Ukrainian gas reserves are stable according to the latest data.

The official also said that European Commission’s Vice President for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic plans to call the Russian and Ukrainian energy ministers on Friday and discuss possible gas negotiations.

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