BRATISLAVA, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Slovakia will be the biggest loser in the European Union owing to the planned Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which will bypass Ukraine and Poland to supply Russian gas to Germany, a Slovak expert said Saturday.
"Slovakia stands to lose most, as it has a central geographical location," head of Energy Program at the GLOBSEC Policy Institute Nolan Theisen said in a statement.
Slovakia may lose out on maximum transit fees, estimated at 750 million euros (800 million U.S. dollars), according to Theisen.
But, "Slovakia can't do anything at this point and can only wait to see how things pan out," Theisen said.
The planned pipeline aims to deliver 55 billion cubic meters of gas a year from Russia to Germany, via the Baltic Sea. It would not lead through the territory of Ukraine, Poland and the Baltic states.
Slovak gas transmission operator Eustream is pushing for a new gas pipeline, Eastring, which should connect western Europe and the Balkans. It's also receiving payments for reverse gas flows to Ukraine, using the Vojany-Uzhhorod pipeline.
