Alexey Belogoryev, Research and Development Director of the Institute for Energy and Finance, commented to InfoTEK on alternative gas supply options for Austria without direct Russian gas supplies.
Belogoryev noted that a temporary compromise is also possible, but on gas transit to Moldova. The country may receive an exception, since it has neither UGS facilities nor the ability to replace Russian gas."So far, everything indicates that transit to the EU will indeed be stopped on January 1 and may resume in the spring if negotiations on a common Ukrainian settlement are successful," he said.
According to the expert, the Ukrainian transit of Russian gas now amounts to 1.2 billion cubic meters per month, which is relatively small and threatens only a local shortage in Slovakia, Austria and Moldova.
He did not rule out a shortage in the range of 10% of demand in Slovakia and Austria, but it will depend on weather conditions in January-March.
"Moldova, if transit stops, will face an unprecedented energy crisis," the expert noted.
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