Danko: Energy Prices to Triple if Slovakia Cuts Off Russian Gas

Bratislava, 16 July (TASR) - Energy prices in Slovakia will surge to three times their current level as of 2028 - if Slovakia stops purchasing Russian gas, SNS leader and Parliament's Vice-chair Andrej Danko declared on Wednesday. He made the statement on social media in the context of debates over Russian energy imports. „If we cut ourselves off from Russian gas, I don’t want to be a doomsayer, but from 2028 we will be paying three times more not only for gas, but also for electricity,” Danko said. „Gas is a backup source even for wind power plants, which are unstable and require a balanced supply. Every wind turbine needs a backup source. There is no such thing as fully green energy — the only real path forward is nuclear energy. And everyone has already realized that. But nuclear power plants without Russian nuclear fuel? That’s a fairytale,” he added. Danko also criticized President Peter Pellegrini for not standing with Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) in opposing the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia. „I regret that our President isn’t standing beside Prime Minister Fico today, fighting to reject the 18th sanctions package. If we support it, it will be a total disaster. I trust our government will do everything it can to vote against it,” Danko stated. mf