Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom's
headquarters is seen in Moscow, Jan. 3, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters
Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
KIEV, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Russian energy giant Gazprom
has cut gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine to around two-thirds of its normal
flow, which will disrupt supplies to Europe, Ukrainian state gas company
Naftogaz spokesman Valentin Zemlyanski said on Tuesday.
"They have reduced deliveries to 92 million cubic
meters per 24 hours compared to the promised 221 million cubic meters without
explanation. We do not understand how we will deliver gas to Europe," said
Zemlyanski.
"This means that in a few hours Europe will face a
problem with gas supplies," he added.
The nearly 60-percent reduction came a day after
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin ordered Gazprom to start cutting supplies
bound for Europe via Ukraine in retaliation for Ukraine's alleged theft of
Russian gas.
Ukraine denied that it was siphoning off gas and has
accused Russia of being behind the current gas crisis.
A number of European Union countries have reported
drops in supplies after Russia's state gas monopoly Gazprom cut off supplies to
Ukraine last Thursday after the two sides failed to agree on terms for a 2009
contract amid conflicts over a new price and gas transit fees.
Around a quarter of the gas used in the EU -- more
than 40 percent of the bloc's imports -- comes from Russia, and Ukraine sits on
the main transit route for gas exports, accounting for 80 percent of the
continent's gas supply from Russia.
In 2006, a dispute over gas prices between Kiev and
Moscow sent jitters among European customers after Gazprom cut all gas supplies
to Ukraine.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei
Stanishev (C) speaks during a news conference beside Bulgaria's Economy
and Energy Minister Petar Dimitrov (R) and Bulgaria's state gas monopoly
Bulgargaz chief executive Dimitar Gogov at the government building in
Sofia, January 6, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
SOFIA, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Bulgaria's Ministry of Energy
and Economy said on Tuesday that Russian gas supplies to the Balkans halted
early in the day.
The ministry said that as of 3:30 a.m. local time
(0130 GMT), Russian gas supplies to Bulgaria as well as the transit to Greece,
Turkey and Macedonia had been suspended. Full story
ANKARA, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Energy and Natural
Resources Minister Hilmi Guler confirmed on Tuesday that the flow of natural gas
from the western line of Russia to Turkey completely stopped, the semi-official
Anatolia news agency reported.
"The amount of natural gas, which flows from western line
of Russia, dropped first to 32 million cubic meters and then to 17 million cubic
meters. Currently, the natural gas inflow through Ukraine has completely
stopped," the report quoted Guler, adding that the ministry had already taken
necessary measures. Full story
BUCHAREST, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- More than two thirds of Russian gas supplies to Romania have been suspended and the flow through one of the two gas import stations has been cut totally, the Economic Ministry of Romania said Tuesday.
Russia's state-run energy giant Gazprom cut off natural gas supplies through the Isaccea station at 3:00 a.m. (0100 GMT) Tuesday, according to the ministry. Full story
MOSCOW, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Russia will reduce its gas
export that was pumped through pipelines stretching over Ukraine to Western
Europe countries, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said here on Monday amid gas
disputes with the neighbor.
Russian gas monopoly Gazprom's Chief Executive
Officer Alexei Miller raised the proposal to cut 65.3 million cubic meters of
gas export that was allegedly stolen by Ukraine during a meeting with Putin who
nodded, Itar-Tass and Interfax reported. Full story
