The reverse gas flow pipeline from Slovakia to Ukraine was ceremonially opened by the respective prime ministers of Slovakia and Ukraine Robert Fico and Arseniy Yatsenyuk and representative of the European Commission Klaus-Dieter Borchardt in Velke Kapusany (Kosice region) on Tuesday.
A memorandum on introducing the reverse gas flow from Slovakia to Ukraine was signed by gas transport operators of the two countries Eustream and Ukrtransgaz back on 28 April. Ukraine launched talks with its EU neighbours after Russian concern Gazprom in early April almost doubled the gas prices for Ukraine. The country, which is facing a deep economic crisis, covers around half of its energy- supply mix by gas from Russia. According to Fico speaking on Tuesday, such specific steps as this one are solutions that are needed in difficult times.
