By KYIV. Nov 22 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Former head of the GTS Operator of Ukraine (GTSOU) Serhiy Makogon believes that Gazprom, with its latest statement of intention to reduce gas supplies to Moldova, wants Chisinau not to pump gas into Ukrainian underground gas storage (UGS) facilities, and is looking for a reason to reduce transit.
"This [backhaul] is a common practice. We have been doing this with Russian gas at all European borders since 2020, and this does not bother Gazprom. And the launch of a backhaul in Moldova caused such a strong reaction from Gazprom. It seems that Gazprom simply does not want to allow Moldova to pump gas into Ukrainian UGS facilities and is looking for a reason to reduce transit," he told Interfax-Ukraine.
According to him, the claims of Gazprom that "Russian gas intended for delivery to Moldova was being withheld in Ukraine" have no grounds.
"The entire volume is fully supplied. Everything is documented. The backhaul just started working when multidirectional flows are replaced, so physical flows differ from commercial ones. For example, 50 million cubic meters go from Ukraine to Moldova, and 10 million cubic meters go from Moldova to Ukraine. Then only the difference – 40 million – will physically pass from Ukraine to Moldova," Makogon said.
The ex-head of the operator on his Facebook page also recalled that due to warm weather, Moldova sent part of the purchased gas from the Russian Federation and the EU to UGS facilities in Ukraine.
"Because of the warm weather, Moldova sent part of the Russian gas and gas from the EU, received through Ukraine, to our UGS facilities. Gazprom does not want to allow the strengthening of Moldova’s energy security and seeks to constantly blackmail them," he said.
