Ukraine and Romania Sign Key Gas Agreement

Home / News / Ukraine and Romania Sign Key Gas Agreement
Now all suppliers have the opportunity to transmit natural gas freely using a new route. While Kyiv and Moscow continue negotiations on gas, the Ukrainian GTS Operator company and the Romanian operator TRANSGAZ signed an interconnection technical agreement on cooperation in accordance with European rules from January 1, 2020. Negotiations with the mediation of the European Commission lasted more than three years. Operators of Bulgaria, Greece and Moldova were also involved in them. This means that all suppliers have the opportunity to transport natural gas via a new supply route freely - from Southern Europe and Turkey - through Bulgaria and Romania - to Ukraine and Moldova. That is, from January 1, Isaccea 1- Orlovka 1 interconnection point capacity on the Ukraine-Romania route will increase up to 17.8 million cubic meters per day, as well as in the opposite direction - 15.8 million cubic meters per day. “This decision is historic and extremely important because it allows you to create an additional route for gas imports to Ukraine, primarily to provide gas to consumers in Moldova and Odessa region of Ukraine. This will allow to have gas supplies even there will be possible termination of gas transit from the Russian Federation,” said Ukrainian GTS general director Sergey Makogon. During a meeting in Brussels on December 12, 2019, the operators of the gas transportation systems of Ukraine, Moldova, Romania and Bulgaria agreed in principle on the text of agreements to ensure reverse trans-Balkan gas pipeline, namely, on “Transit-1” in the direction Bulgaria-Romania-Ukraine-Moldova. On December 12, 2019, during a meeting in Brussels the operators of the gas transportation systems of Ukraine, Moldova, Romania and Bulgaria agreed in principle on the text of agreements to ensure reverse with trans-Balkan gas pipeline for Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, and Moldova. Note that the previously signed agreement between the operators of the gas transmission systems of Ukraine and Romania did not allow transporting natural gas in the reverse direction, and did not provide European rules for interaction, since such an opportunity was blocked by the current transit contract between Naftogaz and Gazprom. At the end of this contract, from January 1, 2020, such a condition will be leveled and the Ukrainian GTS operator will be able to cooperate with the Romanian GTS operator according to European rules. Moreover, such an agreement creates an additional technical opportunity for Moldova to import gas for its own needs alternatively from Turkey and Greece if Gazprom stops transit to Europe through Ukraine. segodnya.ua