Ukraine’s Naftogaz says Gazprom abuses European gas crisis

KYIV, Dec 22 (PRIME) -- Russian gas giant Gazprom is abusing its dominant position on the European gas market and creating artificial deficit, Ukrainian gas company Naftogaz of Ukraine said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Gazprom has refused to supply larger volumes to the E.U... The purpose of such actions is, in particular, to create an artificial gas shortage and pressure on the European Union to launch the Nord Stream-2 pipeline as soon as possible without complying with European legislation,” the statement read.

The Ukrainian company has petitioned the Directorate General for Competition for immediate action to “normalize the situation.” Naftogaz also requested that the European Commission oblige Gazprom to transit more gas via Ukraine’s gas transit system and allow gas from private Russian companies and Central Asian countries to be transited via its own system for exports to Europe.

“Naftogaz asks the authority to oblige Gazprom to put up for sale via the electronic platform significant volumes of gas for delivery at the Ukrainian-Russian border or at least at the border between Ukraine and the EU countries,” the statement read.

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