Gas on its way to Slovakia and Turkey – contract signed for transit of Russian gas across Ukraine

Russian gas has reached Slovakian border today (January 20, 2009) on its way to Bulgaria and Turkey.

As Itartas announced, the arrival of Russian gas has been registered at control gas station in Velke-Kapušane, on Slovakian-Ukrainian border, but, after certain time, the pressure in pipes started to drop for unknown reasons.

Citing the information it got from Ukrainian company “Naftogas”, Slovakia announced that it would be the first European country to receive Russian gas.

- Russian gas is already on its way to Bulgaria where it should arrive within next 24 hours – the CEO of "Bultransgaz", Atanas Semerdžiev, announced.

Russian "Gazprom" and Ukrainian "Naftogas" signed the ten-year agreement on reestablishment of transit of Russian gas across Ukraine and delivery of gas on January 19th.

- After difficult negotiations, the agreement was reached for all issues related to delivery of gas to Ukraine and transit of that fuel to Europe – said Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin after the gas contract between Russian “Gazprom" and Ukrainian "Naftogas" was signed.