Expert: Ukrainian gas transportation system is in poor condition
In Ukraine, no one is thinking about the future of the gas distribution system after the current contract for the transit of Russian gas is terminated and the Russian Federation launches the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
Valentin Zemlyansky, director of energy programs at the Center for World Economy and International Relations of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, stated this at a press conference in Kyiv, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“Nobody even tries to look 2-3 years ahead. Let's understand: Nord Stream 2 will be implemented. In the event of a decrease in transit, no matter to what volumes, how will gas supply be ensured to Ukrainian consumers?
We are talking about more than half of the regions of Ukraine, starting with the Kyiv region; Western Ukraine, Odessa region, Kirovograd, Vinnitsa, Cherkassy, Chernigov, Zhitomir... Today there is no answer to the question of how the Ukrainian gas transportation system and, accordingly, the gas distribution system will function in the new conditions.
Moreover, today the Ukrainian gas transportation system is in a terrible state. About 18 thousand km of gas pipelines are 100% depreciated and require replacement. Another 4 thousand km are in disrepair and require repairs.
No one raises the question of where we will get a billion hryvnia to modernize the system, in order to add the missing connecting gas pipelines and change the operating mode of gas distribution, so as not to simply leave Ukrainian consumers without gas after the implementation of bypass gas pipeline projects.
This issue is not on the agenda of either the president, NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine, or the government. We hear loud political statements, appeals to the EU regarding Nord Stream 2, but there is not a single message that would be sent here, internally, to solve current problems that can lead to extremely negative consequences.
Already this winter we have seen examples - both in Smela and in Slavutich with gas supply - of what this leads to. This practice may continue on an even larger scale in the next heating season in other regional centers,” the expert said.
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