(ANSA) - MOSCOW, JUNE 24 - The specter of a gas crisis weighs
on Europe. The crisis might be the result of the precarious
situation of Ukrtransgaz, the Ukrainian operator of the pipeline
system. According to Nezavisimaya Gazeta, in fact, Ukrtransgaz
"does not have sufficient financial capacity" to buy the volumes
of gas which are necessary to maintain transport infrastructure
- gas pipelines - in good conditions and now "supplies are at
risk of being cut off". Ukrtransgaz, moreover, has already
declared in a statement published on its website the shortage of
stocks in its underground warehouses: approximately 152m cubic
meters of gas, whereas the monthly needs amount to about 240
million.
In order to work properly the gas pipeline needs around 720m
cubic meters of gas in the summer, but - according to local
media - the company has not succeeded in placing the 12
contracts which are necessary to secure the expected 880m cubic
meters, and this is apparently due to doubts about its financial
stability. (ANSA).
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