The natural gas flow to Slovakia changed in June compared to the previous period, according to data published by gas transport operator Eustream. While in May most of the gas was flowing via Ukraine and entering Slovakia through the Velke Kapusany (Kosice region) transit point, the flows have reversed since June, with more gas flowing to Slovakia from the West via the Lanzhot transit point (Czech Republic). In the second half of May (from May 16), Eustream recorded a gas inflow through Velke Kapusany amounting to more than 700 million cubic metres (m3), which is 44 million m3 per day, while some 500 million m3 arrived from the Czech Republic through Lanzhot, which is roughly 31 million m3 per day. In June gas supplies to Slovakia from the West grew to 41-52 million m3 per day, which is some 47 million m3 on average. Conversely, daily gas supplies via Ukraine fell to 36 million m3 on average. Despite the change in its direction, the vast majority of gas comes to Slovakia from Russia, bypassing Ukraine via the Nord Stream pipeline. According to the Economy Ministry, only some of the Russian gas has so far been replaced by imports from three tankers of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The significantly increased gas supplies for the Nafta company, which started to fill its gas storage capacities to an increased extent, also continues. Instead of 4-5 million m3 daily in early May, Nafta currently takes some 20 million m3 of gas from the pipeline.
Source: TASR
