Ukraine reduces Russian gas consumption to aid Europe

PanARMENIAN.Net - Ukraine has suggested reducing its consumption of Russian gas to satisfy Europe with above-contract demands of the blue fuel, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said on Monday, February 6, RIA Novosti reported.

Ukraine's energy company Naftogaz said on Saturday it reduced its consumption of Russian gas to guarantee the highest possible gas delivery to the EU hit by severe cold with temperatures dropping to minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit) and started using gas from its own gas storages.

On the same day Andrei Kruglov, deputy chairman of the management committee in Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom, said the company could not deliver extra volumes of gas to Europe, while European Commission spokeswoman Marlene Holzner said on Sunday that Russia was gradually increasing contracted blue fuel supplies to the EU states to which were reduced last week.

"When Russia had reduced gas delivery to Europe and Gazprom officials confirmed it officially, we suggested asking us, we are willing. We could work out an agreement and help if (Gazprom) finds it necessary," Azarov told reporters.

The prime minister also said that Ukraine would not face any difficulties after it started consuming gas from storages, not from pipeline for a while.

Ukraine is probably the country worst affected by these extreme weather conditions. Russia’s neighboring country is now importing natural gas, which is equal to an annual volume of 60 billion cubic meters, higher than the contracted volume of 52 bcm, which Ukraine denies.