Experts assemble to monitor gas flow resumption
A team of energy experts assembled by the European Commission arrived in Kiev today to begin work monitoring gas flows from Russia to the EU via Ukraine.
The move follows yesterday’s deal to end the gas crisis, which involves Russia turning the gas tap on again in return for independent monitoring of Ukraine, which is the transit route for EU-bound supplies.
Ukraine has been accused of siphoning off EU gas to replace its own supply from Russia, which Moscow cut off in a billing dispute.
The first group of monitors included EU Commission energy experts and independent energy specialists, and more will be sent later today, a Commission spokesman said.
Following a morning of talks in Brussels involving the EU’s “Gas Co-ordination Group” (GCG) and experts from the Russian and Ukrainian gas companies, Gazprom and Naftogaz, the Commission official commented: “Now is the time to turn the gas tap on again. The conditions are there for the full return of supplies.”
But it still could take days to get back to normal, with Ukraine warning it could take 36 hours to resume the full flow of EU-destined gas once Russia opens the taps at its end.
Czech Premier Mirek Topolanek was also due to go to Kiev later today “to discuss specific details of the functioning of the European Commission’s monitoring group and to make sure the observers are deployed immediately at points that are relevant for the transit of Russian gas via Ukraine to the EU, so that gas supplies can be restored as soon as possible,” said a Commission statement.
The EU has lost on average 30% of its gas imports because of the dispute, according to the Commission. But the amounts vary hugely from country to country, with central European member states worst hit as the bulk of their gas comes from Russia.
After today’s GCG meeting, EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs made clear that improvements in the EU’s energy security policy were now crucial.
“Security of energy supply is one of the three pillars of European energy policy,” he said.
“Europe needs reliable partners. Suppliers must respect their contractual obligations towards European industry, and transit countries must live up to their international obligations. A commercial dispute cannot have such disproportionate consequences.”
The GCG was set up in 2006 after the last supply crisis triggered by a dispute between Russia and Ukraine. The group meets at least four times a year to swap information and monitor energy security measures.
