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Gazprom ceases natural gas supply in Romania and the Balkans

Other EU countries are affected. Brussels regards the measure as "totally unacceptable." The Romanian authorities assure that the situation is under control and they proposed cut in consumption and switch to alternative fuels as solutions.

The Russian giant Gazprom reduced drastically the supply of natural gas, through Ukraine, having European consumers as destination, and the deliveries towards Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Croatia and Macedonia were ceased.

In Romania, the complete supply of natural gas took place through Isaccea 2 station, yesterday morning, at 03:00. Following this, the import station Isaccea 2 had to be put on hold in order to avoid loss of pressure in the transport pipes. The natural gas volume supplied through this point is 4.7 million cubic meters per day.

Following the urgent call on session to analyze the issue of Russian gas delivery, PM Emil Boc and Economy Minister Adriean Videanu assured that the Government had the situation under control. Thus, the authorities would consider cutting fuel consumption at heat supply plants level and the use of alternative fuel. The head of the government assured that there were already factors that could influence the terms of gas supply. An emergency committee was also yesterday set up in Termoelectrica in order to analyze the issue.

"We have two constraints, one related, on medium term, to the evolution of this situation between Russia and Ukraine, and secondly, variables may occur depending on the outside temperatures. If temperature goes below 15 centigrade, pressure related issues could occur, but technical teams are prepared to intervene and cope with the challenge," PM Boc said.

Economy Minister, Adriean Videanu, mentioned that Romania's daily consumption was 61.5 million cubic meters of gas, out of which 33 million are produced internally, 26 million come from storages and 2.5 million are imported, through the entry point Mediesul Aurit.

PM Emil Boc had a phone talk with the European Commissioner for Energy, Andris Pieblags, in order to inform him on the cessation of gas delivery from Russia, through Isaccea 2, and he was assured that him, together with the chair of the European Commission, would involve in order to find a solution.

In his turn, Economy Minister contacted Gazprom official in Romania in order to ask for clarifications. "I contacted Gazprom representative in Romania, who said that the Russian company is not to be held liable for the current situation (...) I want to have a meeting Gazpom representatives," Videanu said. On diplomatic channels, Economy Ministry will contact Embassy of Ukraine in order to ask for details regarding the current situation, he added.

"The quantity of natural gas stored in the strategic stocks may cover Romania's necessities over the next 6 months. In addition, the decrease of pressure within the system could not affect, at worst, anything more than Galati County, which could switch to alternative energy consumption," according to Adriean Videanu, Economy Minister.

The Russian - Ukrainian dispute related to the natural gas intensifies as days pass. On Monday, the Russian PM, Vladimir Putin, ordered the giant Gazprom to immediately reduce the natural gas volume delivered to Europe through Ukraine, in order to discourage theft from pipes, which is something that Moscow blames Kiev for.

EC: The gas conflict do not pose an immediate danger

The European Union condemns the cessation of natural gas supply by Russia. The EU officials regard Russia decision to cease deliveries gas towards several EU Member States "as totally unacceptable."

On the other side, the gas conflict between Russia and Ukraine induced "irregularities" in relation to supplies towards the EU, but it does not pose "an immediate danger" for consumers. The European Commission specified this, through one of its spokespersons, who assured that the stock level continued to be high.

The official recognizes that there were variations in the volume of natural gas received by some states, but he says that part of the issues "were addressed." The information available on Monday evening indicated the situation "returned to normal" in Hungary, and the significant drop in pressure, noted in Romania, was also remedied.

The spokesperson said that the extremely cold weather from Europe would result in an immediate raise of gas consumption. "Europe is interested the dispute between Kiev and Gazprom is settled as soon as possible," the European official underlined.

"At this moment, I can tell, based on the information available, that Gazprom has decided to completely cease the delivery of Russian gas," according to the president of the national gas company Naftogaz, Oleg Dubina, in a press conference after the meeting with the EC officials. According to UNIAN agency, the head of the Ukrainian company Naftogaz will go to Moscow on January 8, in order to have a meeting with his counterpart from Gazprom, Aleksei Miller.

Natural gas consumption, rationalized

Yet, the effects of the cut in gas supply have already been felt in households from Romania. The plant Termoficare 2000 from Pitesti informed, on Monday, that they would reduce, by 5,500 cubic meters by hour, the gas volume through the heat suppliers from the municipal. In the evening, Pitesti Mayor Pentiuc denies such information, saying everything about reduced gas in his town is false.

The decision was made following Transgaz requirement, within the context of a lower import gas flow, in order to secure the safe supply of the localities linked to the national transport system. Transgaz specified that the flow of Russian gas in Romania remains by 30 per cent lower for the time being. The representatives of Bucharest City Hall informed that Bucharest does not experience, for the time being, gas supply issues in large institutions.

The director of the local heat supply plant from Timisoara - Colterm, Aurel Matei, said that they decided to use the reserves of coal and black oil to supply heat to households, considering that natural gas supplies decreased, and the company may operate only for another four-five days.

RADET General Director, Virgil Ramba, declared, for Agerpres, that the gas pressure because of improper supply has not yet been experienced. He said that the local authorities were concerned with having heat supplied in normal terms, so that "things turn out well."

In Transnistria, the existent reserves are sufficient for two days only, as Nicolai Mitinschi, director general of Tiraspoltransgaz company, informed, according to Info-Prim Neo on its electronic page. He specified that the largest electric station in the region, the electric plant from Dnestrovsc, has already switched to coal.

Petrom supplements natural gas quantities

Petrom supplements the quantity of natural gas supplied to Romanian consumers with 1.3 - 1.5 M cubic metres of gas on a daily basis, the company informs in a press release.

Petrom, the biggest oil and gas producer in South-Eastern Europe, is increasing the volume of natural gas to be delivered to Romanian consumers by injecting additional quantities into the national transmission system, by putting new gas wells into operation and by temporarily closing the Doljchim plant.

 

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Tags: volume pressure order million economy company russia european ukraine romania supply natural situation consumption through russian gazprom

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