Page 39 - RusRPTAug24

the transit extension expires after 2025. To reach Moldova, Russian gas could use the Isaccea entry point between Romania and Ukraine, but a transit agreement for the 25-kilometer stretch through Ukraine would be necessary. The Trans-Balkan pipeline has operated in reverse flow since late 2022, with 0.54 Bcm of gas entering Moldova via Ukraine from Romania through Isaccea in 2023.
Alternative Supply Routes
Moldova and other Central and Eastern European countries could receive gas from the Southern Gas Corridor in Azerbaijan and from Turkish and Greek LNG import terminals via southern routes. If the Russia-Ukraine transit agreement ceases, the Balkan Stream and the Horgos entry point between Serbia and Hungary will be critical for gas supplies to the region.
2.14 President Ilham Aliyev on gas exports to Europe & from Russia
Thank you. When we signed the declaration on strategic partnership in the energy field with the President of the European Commission in July 2022, we set a specific target. It is not a formal commitment but a target to double the supply of Azerbaijani gas to Europe. We are moving towards that direction. In 2021, our supplies to Europe were more than 8 bcm. This year, it will be close to 13 bcm, only to Europe. The total supply will be 25 bcm. When we were talking about 2027, doubling the production, that means 16 bcm by end of 2027. These resources are planned to be delivered through the existing transportation network, through the Southern Gas Corridor, and its interconnectors.
With respect to the termination of duration of the contract between Ukraine and Russia, we've been approached by Ukrainian authorities and the European Union to facilitate in prolongation of this contract. It seems that both sides are interested in that, because Ukraine itself needs this gas. As you correctly mentioned, countries like Austria and Slovakia will be in serious trouble. Either they will have to pay hundreds of millions —I don't want to name the precise figure because it's none of my business, that's why I'm talking approximately—but it's hundreds and hundreds of millions more to get gas from other sources. Or physically, they will have no access to additional gas, because unlike other European countries, these two are in the most difficult situation.
You may have heard that Azerbaijan was again accused, coming back to the topic, of reselling Russian gas to Europe, which is absolutely fake news again. Just one example: yes, we did contract one billion cubic meters of gas from Russia when the prices on international markets were very high, and the price for Russian gas was affordable. This was purely a commercial business case, nothing more than that. As I said already, we export 25bn cubic meters and only import one billion. Being accused of being a kind of a channel for Russian gas exports is absolutely unfair. That was a great-great fake news.
39 RUSSIA Country Report August 2024 www.intellinews.com