Naftogaz blocks transit again, Gazprom

Russian concern Gazprom accused today, January 15, the Ukrainian company Naftogaz of refusing, for the third time now, to transit gas to European consumers, including Moldova, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting the agency RIA Novosti. According to the quoted source, last night Gazprom sent Naftogaz another application for the transit of 99.2 million cubic meters of gas through the Sudja entry point on Thursday. The volume included 13.9 million cu m of gas for Moldova, 63.1 million cu m for the Balkans and 22.2 million cu m for Slovakia. But, according to Gazprom, the answer was negative. The prime ministers of the Republic of Moldova, Slovakia and Bulgaria visited Moscow on Wednesday, January 14, to discuss the resumption of gas deliveries. Following a series of negotiations, Russia suggested Ukraine could ship gas to Moldova and Slovakia under swap terms. Later, the Moldovan Government said in a statement that Ukraine had already resumed gas deliveries to the Odessa region yesterday evening, which allowed the provision of gas in minimal amounts to parts of Moldova. At the same time, upon his return home, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico looked very pessimistic about the results of the talks, saying it was "practically impossible" gas deliveries would be restored soon. Russian and Ukrainian officials, assisted by European partners, will be back at the table in negotiations for a solution to the gas crisis no earlier than on Saturday, January 17.