European Companies File Applications for Reverse Flow to Ukraine

About twenty European companies have expressed an interest in supplying gas to Ukraine via Slovakia, Kiev said on Thursday. 

‘Slovakia’s gas pipeline operator Eustream reported the successful completion of the Open Season for receiving applications for gas supplies to Ukraine via Slovakia. The Open Season procedure has been conducted in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Slovak company Eustream and the Ukrainian company Ukrtransgaz on April 28, 2014,’ reads a note released on Thursday. 

Eustream confirmed that the Open Season procedure for Vojany pipeline has been finalised. 

‘As of now the rest of capacities for exit point Budince are available for booking via the normal procedure of third party access as defined in operational order of Eustream,’ the company said on Wednesday. 

Naftogaz welcomed the results of the call for application, adding that among the ‘over two dozen European suppliers’ there are also EU’s largest gas traders.  

“Rich results of the Open Season procedure confirm that the reverse gas supply from the EU to Ukraine is a commercially attractive and legally impeccable business. The vast Ukrainian market is of high interest to the European businesses… It is beyond a doubt that together with Voyany-Uzhgorod pipeline, Slovak capacities to transport gas to Ukraine will also employ one of the four main gas pipelines, which are currently not used to the full extent, at the Velke Kapusany hub,” he added,’ Andriy Kobolev, CEO of NJSC Naftogaz Ukraine, commented.  

Meanwhile, Eustream confirmed the gas flow from Ukraine remains in normal mode, and Western companies confirmed their interest to start using Ukraine as a gas hub.  According to Naftogaz, German and American companies openly said they see business opportunities in Ukraine’s underground gas storage facilities.