REUTERS
An explosion at the Baumgarten compressor station in Austria has led to a 23% reduction in natural gas transit from Russia to Slovakia through Ukraine, that is to 200 million cubic meters per day, according to Ukrainian energy and coal industry minister's advisor Maksym Beliavsky.
"Because of yesterday's emergency at Baumgarten [compressor station] in Austria, gas transit via Ukraine has dropped by 23%, to 200 million cubic meters per day. Nevertheless, Ukraine fulfills the orders of the European importing countries in time, and is ready to increase the volumes of gas pumping to Europe after the receipt of the relevant application," he said.
According to Beliavsky, gas supplies to Ukrainian households remain at the target level, namely 137.2 million cubic meters per day.
"As for gas supplies to domestic consumers, there are no changes. They consistently receive gas from three sources: national production (58.1 million cubic meters per day), stocks in underground storage facilities (48.1 million cubic meters) and imports from Europe," he said, adding that gas imports (32.2 million cubic meters) to Ukraine from Europe have not changed.
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"In the morning, it was possible to restore gas transfer from Slovakia to Austria and further to Italy," he noted.
As UNIAN reported earlier, an explosion occurred at the Austrian gas hub near the city of Baumgarten on the morning of December 12.
CEO of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine Andriy Kobolyev 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.
According to Ukrtransgaz, gas transit via Ukraine to Slovakia and further to Austria will be temporarily reduced as a result of the accident.
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Meanwhile, the fire was extinguished in the evening of December 12, Austria's transmission system operator Gas Connect Austria reports. As a result of the accident, one person was killed and 18 injured.
UNIAN memo. Central European Gas Hub AG, one of the largest gas hubs in the European Union, is located near the city of Baumgarten in Austria. It is an international platform for gas trading. Stock quotes for gas are formed based on its price indicators. The hub is a transit point of gas supplies from Russia via Ukraine to Slovakia, and then to Italy and to the south of Germany.