Ukraine offers Europe to halve Nord Stream gas transit

Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine (Gas TSO of Ukraine) has proposed that Europe gradually impose an embargo on the use of the Nord Stream 1 natural gas pipeline.

Gas TSO of Ukraine Director-General Serhii Makogon said this in an interview with TSN.ua, Ukrinform reports.

“Our suggestion for the de-Putinization of the Nord Stream 1 and de-Putinization of Europe is the gradual implementation of an embargo on pipelines. We understand that Europe cannot reject the use of Russian natural gas immediately. However, the countries are planning to do so gradually,” Makogon said.

According to the official, it is possible to initially impose a 50% limit on transit via Nord Stream 1. The supply of natural gas to Germany could be carried on through the gas transmission systems of Ukraine and Poland.

“Both Yamal and our gas transmission system (GTS) are capable of transporting an additional 20-30 billion cubic meters of natural gas that will actually increase Russia's dependence on our gas infrastructure. They will understand that if they damage our GTS, they will not be able to export gas to Europe. This is our proposal and we are currently actively discussing it with our European and American colleagues," Makogon commented.

The official has stressed that Europe needs to diversify supplies by shipping gas from Africa and Qatar, as well as switching to alternative energy.

As reported earlier, after Russia unleashed its war in Ukraine, the German government, which had consistently supported the Nord Stream 2 project, ordered the Federal Network Agency to suspend the pipe’s certification. Nord Stream 2 AG, the pipeline’s, declared bankruptcy on March 1.

Nord Stream 1 was laid under the Baltic Sea to the German coast. The annual capacity of the pipeline, which has been operating since 2012, stands at up to 55 billion cubic meters of gas.