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Fico: Slovakia Much Better Prepared for Gas Crisis Than in January
Sunday 27 December 2009 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, December 27 (TASR) - Slovakia is well prepared for another possible gas crisis, much better than it was a year ago when one struck for the first time, Prime Minister Robert Fico has told TASR, adding that restrictions in gas distribution shouldn't be repeated either.
Gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine were halted for two weeks at the beginning of 2009 due to a conflict between Russia and Ukraine concerning payments for gas supplies. Slovakia - as one of the most severely affected countries - had to restrict supplies to the largest industries in the country, causing losses estimated at around €100 million.
Various measures have been taken in this sphere since January, assured Fico. "Most of all, we've got privatised reservoirs under control, and if a crisis emerged, regardless of who is the owner of the reservoir and what gas is in the reservoir, Slovakia, the business sector, households, the healthcare system and the social sphere would have priority to have this gas available," he stressed.
Another emergency solution is providing reverse gas flows from the Czech Republic, as well as various agreements on gas supplies signed between Slovak gas utility Slovensky Plynarensky Priemysel (SPP) and Western-European enterprises. "Under these conditions, when the reservoirs are full, it wouldn't be necessary, including in the case of a repeated gas crisis, to take restrictive measures as we had to do in January 2009," said Fico.
It was reported on Wednesday that Ukraine could have problems paying for Russian gas supplies in the next months, as the International Monetary Fund won't provide credit worth €1.39 billion as promised at the beginning of December. Some of the money was designated for gas payments.
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