Russia Blames Ukraine for Europe's Gas Shortages
Monday, January 5, 2009 (4:29 am)
By Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News European Bureau Chief
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (Worthy News) — The European Union was to hold a special meeting Monday, January 5, to discuss a major energy crisis, after Russia accused Ukraine of stealing natural gas destined for Europe.
Several countries already complained about a reduction of Russian gas deliveries from a pipeline passing through Ukraine.
Kyiv denied the charges, citing "technical difficulties" after Moscow cutoff supplies of natural gas to Ukraine amid a dispute over prices.
Russia's energy giant, Gazprom, said several of its key customers in Eastern Europe and the Balkans were receiving less Russian natural gas since it closed the taps to Ukraine on New Year's Day because of unpaid bills.
EUROPEAN CONSUMERS
"Our European consumers in Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Poland, and in the Balkans, are reporting unlicensed siphoning-off of Russian gas on Ukrainian territory," said Gazprom's Chief Executive Officer Alexei Miller. "In this situation, Gazprom must provide additional volumes of gas through other gas transporting corridors."
Ukraine denied it is stealing from Russia's main pipeline to the West, saying there are technical reasons for Europe's natural gas reductions. Ukraine's official on energy security, Bohdan Sokolovsky, warned that Europe could face a bigger crisis within two weeks if Russia continues to halt natural gas deliveries to his country.
"In around 10 days, there could be very serious technical problems. The transport of gas may be disrupted at some point and it will not be our fault," he added.
Russia says natural gas shipments to Ukraine can resume only if it pays outstanding debts of more than two-billion dollars. Ukraine has pledged to pay only one-and-one-half billion.
PRICE HIKE
In addition, Gazprom has raised the price of natural gas for Ukraine to 450 dollars per one-thousand cubic meters — nearly twice the amount offered by Kyiv.
Gazprom and energy mediation company RosUkrEnergo accuse Ukraine of trying to blackmail the Russian gas producer into lowering prices.
RosUkrEnergo's Board of Directors member Hans Baumgartner told reporters they are suing the Ukrainian government over the dispute. "RosUkrEnergo itself filed two claims against Ukraine. To ensure gas transportation to Western Europe," he said.
Ukraine urged the E.U. to mediate. Europe receives about a quarter of its gas supplies from Russia, but it has been reluctant to become involved in the Ukrainian-Russian dispute. But the Czech Republic, which holds the rotating E.U. presidency, has called a special meeting of envoys from all 27 member states to discuss the crisis Monday, January 5, in Prague.
Without an agreement, there was concern Monday, January 5, that many European families will be cold, this winter.
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