Ukraine accuses Slovakia of blocking reverse gas flow

Ukrainian Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Yuriy Prodan has accused Slovakia from blocking the launch of reverse gas flows across its territory to Ukraine, spokesman of Slovakia's gas-pipeline operator Eustream told Xinhua on Friday Ukraine also blamed Slovakia for not admitting its experts to inspect the facilities before the reverse flow as such can be initiated,according to spokesman Vahram Chuguryan. Gas traders estimate that Ukraine could receive 20 billion cubic metres of gas each year thanks to reverse flows from Slovakia. The European Commission supports project of reverse gas flows to Ukraine due to effort to decrease its dependence on Russian gas supplies as well as the North-South corridor, which in the future will allow transit of gas from Poland up to Croatia. Part of it is a a connection of the Slovak and Hungarian gas-pipeline networks, which was opened at the end of the March. The Slovak-Hungarian gas-pipeline connection, which has been financially supported by the EU, fulfills not only business but also energy security requirements. This connection will allow Hungary and Slovakia to receive gas from different sources like Germany, the Netherlands or Norway. Eustream is owned by gas utility SPP. Fifty-one percent of the shares in SPP are held by Slovakia's state-owned National Property Fund (FNM), with the remainder in the hands of private Slovak Gas Holding through its Czech owner EPH.