The operator of the Ukrainian gas transportation system “Ukrtransgaz” may be technically not ready for pumping gas. As reported by RIA Novosti, said the head of Ministry of Ukraine Igor Nasalik in an interview with Ukrainian “First national” TV channel.
According to him, the reason for this is the reluctance of “Naftogaz of Ukraine” to invest in GTS in the country.
“I am here “Ukrtransgaz” in their vision, I think the stupid policy of “Naftogaz” with regard to the transport system, they have, say, crossed out and not considered in 2019. Moreover, with this position of the NJSC “Naftogaz of Ukraine” can we reach that “Ukrtransgaz” may be technically not ready for pumping gas,” — said the Minister.
He called the “disaster” option, if CTA is not ready. However, he noted that the preparation of the energy sector for winter goes according to plan. “I have no problem in General for the autumn-winter period,” said Nasalik.
Earlier the management of “Ukrtransgaz” accused “Naftogaz” in the fact that the company is not interested in investing in the Ukrainian gas transportation system, ostensibly because of the risks of building by Russia of gas pipelines bypassing Ukraine. Such a policy supposedly could negatively affect the country’s preparation for winter.
In June it was reported that “Gazprom” has increased its transit through Ukraine to a record over the past five years. The volume of transit of Russian gas through Ukraine’s GTS in the first five months of 2017 rose 22 percent compared to the same period in 2016 and 64 per cent compared to this period in 2015.