Between January 1 and January 3 the Balkan consumers of Russian gas received 21 million cubic meters less natural gas than they were supposed to because of the Ukraine, ITAR-TASS reported citing Igor Yolkin, a representative of Gazprom's Balkan Dispatching Center.

According to Yolkin, the gas transfer stations in Bulgaria had recorded a 22% decrease in the amount of Russia gas supplies, whereas the natural gas destined for Turkey, Macedonia, and Greece has dropped by 24,8%.

The Gazprom representative warned that after January 4 the decrease in the amount of Russian gas received by the Balkan states could reach 16 million cubic meters per day. He said the Ukraine stopped two major gas compressing stations - "Orlovka" and "Ananievka".

The Gazprom spokesperson Sergei Kupriyanov accused the Ukrainian company Naftogaz of stealing 50 million cubic meters of gas during the last couple of days, BGNES reported citing Interfax.

According to Kupriyanov, Gazprom had supplied 295 million cubic meters of gas through the Ukrainian transport corridor but only 270 million cubic meters made it through the Ukraine. Another 25 million cubic meters were supposed to come from Ukrainian underground storage facilities.

Gazprom stated once again that it was supplying all the gas it was supposed to under the existing contracts. On Sunday, the Russian energy giant asked the European Commission for assistance in monitoring the Russian gas transit through the Ukraine. Gazprom has also filed a suit against Naftogaz in the International Arbitration Court in Stockholm.

After the Ukrainian side rejected Gazprom's earlier offers, the Russian company is now asking for a price of USD 450 per 1 000 cubic meters of gas, whereas the Ukrainians are demanding a price of USD 201 per 1 000 cubic meters.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!