MOSCOW, September 29. /TASS/. Supplies of Russian gas for Europe through Ukraine via the Sudzha gas pumping station remain at 42.4 mln cubic meters per day, according to the website of the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine (GTSOU).
The transit line through Ukraine remains the only route for Russian gas supplies to the countries of Western and Central Europe after the destruction at the Nord Stream.
Deliveries via Nord Stream were completely halted in early September until oil leaks in the units of the Portovaya compressor station are fixed. According to Siemens, the complete elimination of oil leakage on engines is possible only at a specialized repair facility.
On September 26, unprecedented damage was done to three lines of Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2. Swedish seismologists registered two explosions along the routes of gas pipelines. After that, the investigators of Russia's Federal security service opened a criminal case on an act of international terrorism in connection with the explosions. It is currently impossible to determine when the gas pipelines will be repaired.
The future of Ukrainian transit also remains vague. Naftogaz of Ukraine filed a petition for arbitration with the International Arbitration Court against Gazprom for allegedly late payment for gas transportation services through Ukraine. Gazprom strongly rejected all the demands of Naftogaz, stated that it would not pay for transit services which were not provided by the Ukrainian company and warned it about possible sanctions of the Russian Federation if the trial continued. With the introduction of Russian sanctions against Naftogaz, Gazprom will not be able to fulfill its obligations under transactions, including financial transactions.
Amid lower gas supplies from Russia European countries continue pumping gas into their underground gas storage facilities (UGSF), with European gas storages over 88% full now, according to Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE). Earlier, the European Commission (EC) suggested that the occupancy level be introduced for EU gas storage facilities of at least 80% for 2022-2023 winter, and of 90% for all future winter periods.
The storage facilities are largely being filled through purchasing liquefied natural gas (LNG) and supplies through alternative pipelines at the current ultra-high prices. Since the beginning of September, the average price of gas has been around $2,100 per thousand cubic meters.