ITAR-TASS: South Stream can cut gas transit via Ukraine — Naftogaz

Commissioning of the South Stream pipeline by Russia can reduce Ukrainian gas transit by 60 billion cubic meters, state company Naftogaz of Ukraine Chairman of the Board Andrei Kobolev told ICTV on Tuesday.

“Now transit is already 86 billion cubic meters against the previous 110-120 billion. It has already dropped because of Nord Stream,” he said. Once South Stream is constructed, Ukraine “can find itself in a very difficult situation”.

“The absence of partners is the key problem. The Ukrainian gas transportation system (GTS) can now be estimated at $25-35 billion. Without transit, the figure will be less, probably half as much,” said Kobolev.

In the first half of the year, Naftogaz reported 17% less revenue from Russian gas transit to European Union countries than a year earlier (9.03 billion hryvnias, or $750 million).
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