Russia will honor its commitment to deliver natural gas to Slovakia in the coming months, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico told local media on Sunday.
BRATISLAVA, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) — Russia will honor its commitment to deliver natural gas to Slovakia in the coming months, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico told local media on Sunday.
Speaking on the TA3 news channel, Mr. Fico indicated that after the suspension of the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine to Slovakia on January 1, 2025, alternative routes, including gas pipelines passing through the Hungary, could be used to ensure a continuous supply of gas.
Slovakia should thus receive between 3 and 3.5 billion cubic meters of gas per year, approximately the volume previously imported from Russia via Ukraine, he said.
The cessation of Russian gas transit through Ukraine follows the expiration of the old gas contract between Ukraine and Russia on December 31, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky decided not to renew. Russian gas flows to Slovakia therefore ceased on January 1.
Despite having adequate gas storage capacity in the short term, Slovakia still faces challenges. Fico said the country stands to lose 500 million euros (about $510 million) in transit fees, which it previously earned by transporting Russian gas through Ukraine to other European countries. The cessation of transit through Ukraine is also expected to increase gas prices, thus worsening shortages.
