Interfax: Russia’s decision not to build South Stream increases Ukrainian gas transport system’s role – Ukrainian minister

(Interfax – December 3, 2014) The Ukrainian gas transport system’s role has grown with Russia’s decision to stop the construction of the South Stream pipeline, says Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yury Prodan.

“Surely, if there is no South Stream, our gas transport system’s role is increasing,” Prodan told journalists in Kiev on Tuesday.

Ukraine has objected to the construction of bypassing pipelines from the start, as it believes that relatively moderate investments in the modernization of the existing gas transport pipeline could satisfy European consumer needs for Russian gas, he said.

Concerns about deliveries of Russian gas through the Ukrainian gas transport system are unfounded, Prodan said.

“There are no reasons today for a country that has signed all Energy Community commitments and the Energy Charter not to ensure this transit,” he said.

At the same time, Prodan declined to predict whether the Ukrainian gas transport system’s load could be increased. “How the events are going to develop and whether transit across our territory is going to be increased, this needs to be analyzed in the future. I can’t say for sure how this will influence an increase” in gas transit, he said.