Continuation of Russian gas transit through Ukraine depends on the ability of this route to compete with Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on late Monday.
According to Russian news agency Tass, Novak said that the basic condition for gas transit through Ukraine is commercial potential. "This potential is creating economic conditions that will be competitive compared to other routes like the Nord Stream and TurkStream," he said.
Novak noted that the second condition for signing a contract with Ukrainian side is settlement of litigation between Gazprom and Naftogaz. In January 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia keeps the possibility of gas transits through Ukraine open.
The transit contract between Russia and Ukraine expires on 31 December 2019. The TurkStream natural gas pipeline will carry Russian gas directly to Turkey and from Turkey to Europe. The project's first line, which will carry 15.75 bcm of Russian gas to Turkey is completed. The second line's construction is underway.
Nord Stream 2 aims to deliver 55 billion cubic meters of Russian natural gas to the EU states every year. Gazprom completed construction of more than 20 percent of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, the company's CEO, Alexey Miller, told reporters on Monday.
(Anadolu Agency)
