REUTERS
An explosion at a gas pipeline hub near Baumgarten in Austria will result in a temporary drop of natural gas transit from Russia to Slovakia via Ukraine, according to the Tuesday report by the press service of the state-run gas transmission system operator, Ukrtransgaz.
"Due to an emergency situation in the EU, there will be a temporary reduction in transit of natural gas through Ukraine in the Slovak direction," the report said.
According to the press service, despite the accident, the imports from Slovakia to Ukraine meet the target figure, that is 22 million cubic meters of gas per day.
"An insignificant decrease in gas supplies to Ukraine via the Hungarian route is expected," the company said, adding that the restriction of gas imports from EU countries or its temporary cessation, if necessary, will be compensated by increased withdrawal of fuel from underground storage facilities.
"The explosion that took place this morning on the gas pipeline near the Baumgarten compressor station will not affect the provision of domestic consumers," the press service said Tuesday.
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CEO of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine Andriy Kobolev says that the explosion will not affect gas supplies to Ukrainian households, since the amount of gas injected in preparation for the 2017-2018 heating season is 15% up against that of 2016 - 2017.