Slovak News Back to the news
Fico: No Obstacles to Setting Up Joint Company with Gazprom
Monday 16 November 2009 Zoom in | Print page
Moscow, November 16 (TASR) - No obstacles stand in the way of establishing a joint enterprise of the Russian gas concern Gazprom and Slovakia, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said after a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday.
According to Fico, the company would distribute natural gas for Slovak households and firms, and would also store it.
The main issue of the meeting was ensuring supplies of Russian gas and oil to Slovakia. "The Slovak Government views the Russian Federation as a reliable supplier for the territory of Slovakia. So I listened with great interest to reports about problems that could arise in the future with respect to Ukraine's inability to pay for gas supplies. We've agreed on a system of very early and intense communication on this topic," said Fico.
The Slovak premier noted that through Slovak gas utility SPP Slovakia has had signed a long-term contract on Russian gas supplies in volumes of 6.5 billion cubic metres annually. "We have a strategic interest in fulfilling this contract down to the last detail," said Fico.
Putin praised Slovakia as one of the crucial and reliable elements in the system of transport of Russian energy in terms of its commitments to Europe. "Russia will do everything possible to fulfil its commitments to the Slovak partners in full. We'll continue in gas supplies and transit trough Slovakia," said the Russian premier, adding that there are also perspectives for co-operation vis-a-vis transport of Russian oil. This concerns the project of extending the Druzba oil pipeline and its connection to Schwechat, Austria, added Putin.
The two partners also agreed on the need to complete the project of the Cyclotron Centre in Bratislava in which Russia is involved. According to Fico, setting up a joint company of Slovakia and Russia is being considered, and this company would also co-operate with the European Commission with the aim to use this centre in a European context.
The premiers also praised co-operation between Slovakia and Russia in the sphere of nuclear energy. Fico pointed out that without nuclear energy it isn't possible to guarantee Slovakia's energy security.
"I'm also glad that works at the project of broad-gauged railway leading from Ukraine via Slovakia to Austria are continuing. This project is also being backed fully by the Austrian Government," said Fico, adding that Slovakia is interested in using Slovak harbours and airports in this project.
All rights reserved. Any publishing or further dissemination of press releases and photographs from TASR's resources without TASR's prior written approval constitutes a violation of the Copyrights Act.
