“Gazprom” discovered the loss of gas in Ukraine

“Gazprom” intends to start reducing gas transit through Ukraine from November 28 if the “imbalance in supplies” of fuel to Moldova persists, the company said on November 22.

The release explains that the company fixes the “settlement in Ukraine” of gas intended for supply to Moldovan consumers under a contract with Moldovagaz. The report emphasizes that the volume of gas supplied by Gazprom to the gas measuring station (GIS) Sudzha in the Kursk region for transit to Moldova through the territory of Ukraine “exceeds the physical volume transmitted on the border of Ukraine with Moldova.” The total accumulated volume of “settlement” on the territory of Ukraine is already 52.52 million cubic meters. m.

“While maintaining the transit imbalance (…) on November 28 from 10:00 “Gazprom“will begin to reduce the supply of gas to the Sudzha GIS for transit through Ukraine in the amount of a daily undersupply,” the Russian gas holding said in a statement.

“GTS Operator of Ukraine” denies the fact of unauthorized offtake of gas. His statement says that all Russian gas, which was transported through the territory of Ukraine to Moldova, was supplied to Chisinau in full. The company noted that since the beginning of September 2022, Moldova has introduced a virtual reverse at the connection points with Ukraine, and gas supplies from Moldova to Ukraine are carried out using this tool.

As of November 22, according to Gazprom, Russian gas is supplied to the Sudzha GIS for transit through Ukraine in the amount of 42.9 million cubic meters. m per day.

On the news of a possible reduction in gas supplies to Moldova through Ukraine, gas prices in Europe resumed growth – gas by 14:16 Moscow time rose in price on the TTF hub by about 4% compared to the previous trading session, to $ 1,248 per 1,000 cubic meters. m, follows from the data of the ICE exchange. As of 18:40, the price of gas has adjusted to $1,235 per 1,000 cubic meters. m.

“Gazprom” also notes that “Moldovagaz” on November 21, in accordance with the contract, paid to “Gazprom” part of the supplies for November. The volume of actually supplied Russian gas, in respect of which payment for current supplies in November was violated, is 24.9 million cubic meters. m.

Since October 1, Gazprom has reduced the daily volume of gas supplied to Moldova by 30% to 5.7 million cubic meters. m. The company explained this by technical problems associated with the restriction of transit through Ukraine. Since May, Ukraine has stopped accepting applications from Gazprom for pumping gas through the GIS Sokhranivka due to hostilities in the Donbass. In November, Gazprom also supplies Moldova with gas in the amount of 5.7 million cubic meters. m per day.

State Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development of Moldova Konstantin Borosan said on November 22 that Gazprom had reserved daily gas transmission capacities for deliveries to the country in the amount of 5.7 million cubic meters. m for October 2022 – September 2023, of which 1.2 million cubic meters. m – through the GIS “Alekseevka” and 4.5 million cubic meters. m per day – GIS “Grebeniki”.

However, according to Vedomosti’s calculations based on data from the European Network of Gas Transmission System Operators (ENTSOG), on certain days of November, the actual gas flow at the outlet of the Ukrainian gas transmission system was lower. For example, from November 1 to November 11, supplies amounted to less than 5 million cubic meters. m per day.

The export of Russian gas to Europe is currently carried out only along two routes – along one of the branches of the Turkish Stream (as of November 20 – 29 million cubic meters per day) and in transit through Ukraine (about 42-43 million cubic meters per day).

Pumping through the Nord Stream pipeline (capacity 55 billion cubic meters per year) was completely stopped at the end of August due to a malfunction of gas pumping equipment Siemens. On September 26, Nord Stream 1 and the unlaunched Nord Stream 2 were damaged by sabotage in Danish and Swedish waters. The sanctions imposed against Russia because of the NWO in Ukraine have led to the impossibility of pumping through the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline (capacity – 32.9 billion cubic meters per year), which has actually stopped since the end of last year.

Senior Personal BrokerBCS The world of investments” Sergey Golenishchev recalls that “Gazprom“In October, he already reduced gas supplies to Moldova by 30%, and from December 1 he plans to reduce by another 56.5% of the previously agreed volume. “Further reduction in supply volumes due to the transit imbalance can lead to a critically low level of gas supplies and aggravate energy problems in Moldova,” Golenishchev said.

Kirill Rodionov, an expert at the Institute for the Development of Fuel and Energy Complex Technologies, added that gas is the second largest source of electricity generation in Moldova (in 2021 it accounted for 42.4% of generation in the country) after coal. Alexei Grivach, Deputy Director General of the National Energy Security Fund, recalled that Moldova had not fulfilled its obligations to audit and settle its historical debt for gas by May 1, 2022, so Gazprom has the right to reduce or stop supplies “at any time.”

According to an audit by the Accounts Chamber of Moldova, the country owes about $590 million for Russian gas, most of them in the period from 2011 to 2015. Moldovan authorities previously stated that they had accumulated about 200 million cubic meters. m of gas, which is enough for two months of winter, depending on the weather, said Golenishchev. He admits that in the event of abnormal cold weather and further “settlement” of gas in Ukraine, Moldova will have to “urgently look for falling fuel volumes.”

Yury Fedyukin, Managing Partner at Enterprise Legal Solutions, points out that there is “no clear evidence that Ukraine is somehow appropriating” transit gas, which is a reason for Gazprom to start arbitration proceedings. At the same time, if Gazprom suspends gas supplies to Moldova, this will be a reason for Chisinau to file a lawsuit in order to receive compensation for shortfalls in gas supplies, the lawyer adds.