According to Reuters, about half of Russia's natural gas exports to Europe still pass through a transit route in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the other half flows through the Turkstream gas pipeline located under the Black Sea.
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| Sudzha is Russia's last remaining operational natural gas transit point to Western and Central Europe. (Source: AFP) |
Currently, Gazprom supplies approximately 42 million cubic meters of natural gas per day to Europe via Ukraine, through the Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhgorod pipeline, which runs through Sudzhain, in the Kursk region, near Ukraine.
Sudzha is Russia's last remaining operational natural gas transit point to Western and Central Europe.
Approximately 14.65 billion cubic meters of Moscow gas were supplied via Sudzha in 2023, equivalent to about half of Russia's gas exports to Europe.
Meanwhile, the European Union's (EU) gas consumption fell to 295 billion cubic meters last year. However, the amount of gas Moscow transported through Kyiv increased by 10.5% between January and July compared to the same period last year, reaching 8 billion cubic meters.
The gas pipelines are part of the Ukrainian corridor, serving to provide gas transport services toward Slovakia.
Most EU countries have reduced their dependence on Russian gas following the conflict in Ukraine.
Previously, the main countries receiving Moscow's natural gas via transit through Ukraine included Austria, Slovakia, Italy, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, and Moldova.
Currently, Austria still receives most of its gas consumption through Ukraine, while other countries have diversified their supply sources and implemented measures to reduce demand.
The gas transit contract through Ukraine – Moscow and Kyiv's only commercial agreement – will expire at the end of this year.
Last year, Moldova – one of the poorest countries in Europe – imported all of its natural gas from European markets.
According to research by the Center for Global Energy Policy at Columbia University (USA), Croatia's gas imports are currently very low, and Slovenia's have dropped to almost zero after gas supplier Geoplin's contract with Gazprom ended last year.
Earlier this year, the European Commission announced the availability of alternative gas sources.
Austria may import from Italy and Germany, and the country's energy companies have stated that they have taken precautionary measures to prevent a disruption in Russian gas supplies.
Meanwhile, Hungary relies on Russian gas, but via a different route: the TurkStream pipeline, while Slovenia obtains gas from Algeria and other sources.
An adviser to the Azerbaijani president revealed that the 27-member bloc and Kyiv have also asked Azerbaijan to facilitate discussions with Russia regarding a gas transit agreement.
The EU has been working to diversify its gas imports and has signed an agreement to double gas imports from Azerbaijan to at least 20 billion cubic meters per year by 2027.
However, Reuters sources say that the infrastructure and finances are not yet ready to facilitate this expansion.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/chau-au-van-miet-mai-nhap-khi-dot-nga-hop-dong-moscow-kiev-sap-ket-thuc-eu-u-muu-282179.html
