Sakova: Slovakia to Replace Russian Gas Supplies, Negotiating LNG with USA

Bratislava/Brussels, 3 December (TASR) - Slovakia managed to ensure that the draft EU regulation banning imports of Russian gas until autumn 2027, which was preliminarily agreed upon by negotiators of the EU Council and the European Parliament, should include the possibility of using a long-term contract for Russian gas supplies for two more years and, conversely, does not include a ban on importing Russian oil, Economy Minister Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD) posted on a social network on Wednesday. According to Sakova, Slovakia will prepare its national plan for diversifying gas supplies by March 2026. The proposal envisages a legally binding and gradual ban on imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and natural gas from Russia to Europe, with a complete ban to come into force as of the end of next year for LNG and for natural gas as of 30 September 2027, but no later than 1 November 2027. "Infrastructure projects to increase transit capacity in neighbouring countries should be finalised by then. At the same time, gas supplies for our consumption will be replaced by other sources, including LNG from the USA, which Slovakia is negotiating with Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic and Greece," noted Sakova, adding that the key factors for Slovakia are the price of gas and transmission fees for industry and households. Sakova reiterated that the Slovak government has viewed the European Commission's proposal as ideological and risky in terms of the security of supplies since the very beginning. According to her, Slovakia is dependent on transition routes, and Russian gas still accounts for 33 percent of total supplies. Some MEPs demanded an earlier halt to Russian gas imports, but Slovak representatives managed to push through the possibility of using a long-term contract for two more years, posted Sakova on Facebook. The state representatives also pushed for a ban on oil imports from Russia to be dropped from the draft regulation, said Sakova. "Our arguments prevailed, and the Danish presidency, along with the European Commission, defended our interests," she wrote. ko/df