The reverse of gas. The reverse of gas from Slovakia to Ukraine

The reverse of gas is one of the most common economic and political concepts, very often found in publications and news. The phenomenon is not new and is considered in the history of post-Soviet countries very often. Let's try to figure out what the reverse of gas means.

What is the reverse?

The reverse of gas is quite an old phenomenon, the polemic against which was held since Yanukovych's presidency. In economic practice, the phenomenon is associated with return gas supplies. In other words, after the buyer receives fuel from the seller, he redirects it in the opposite direction. If we consider the concept in the example of Ukraine, it will be characterized by certain features. This is due to the underdeveloped structure of the gas pipelines, which distorts the structure of the fuel itself. In simpler terms, the concept implies the sale of gas from the supplier, in the case of Ukraine - this is Russia, to another country, at a more favorable price. For example, the transfer of Poland to Ukraine by Russian gas and is a reverse.

Distinctive characteristics of the Ukrainian reverse

The reverse of gas to Ukraine has its own unique scheme and specifics. The territory of Ukraine is Russia's road to Europe, as it is through its expanses that it is necessary to send gas to the EU. When transporting fuel through the country, part of it remains in Neftegaz. In fact, a percentage of the volume of fuel being transported (10% earlier) is usually called "reversed". Specificity of the gas flow redirection within the state is that there is no separate, specially arranged pipeline for gas return to the country from Europe. The situation when Ukraine leaves part of the supply to itself, is conventionally called "reverse". According to the documentation, the country receives a reverse of gas from Slovakia.

Let's get acquainted with the legal side of the question

In connection with the specific nature of the conditional "gas return" to Ukraine, it is worth paying attention to the existing contradictions. The Russian legislation allows fuel deliveries from Europe only if there is a specially equipped pipeline (physical carrier). In fact, no pipe from Slovakia to Ukraine existed until 2014. According to the documents, the gas becomes the property of the buyer only if it crosses a special border crossing point located on the border between Slovakia and Ukraine, as well as with other countries that act as consumers of Russian "blue" fuel. In the presence of a pipe, the reverse of gas from Slovakia will not be legal for the reason that the official fuel supply agreement clearly and clearly states: "Neftegaz" in this situation acts exclusively as an operator. In the media, there have been several publications with forecasts that the "transfer of gas" from Slovakia will not take place. Already at the beginning of September 2014 the process was launched, and now it continues to develop at a rapid pace.

The beginning of successful cooperation

August 16, 2014 began testing of the pipeline, which already today delivers gas to Ukraine through the territory of Slovakia. The testing phase consisted of starting and verifying the reliability of the system. Representatives of Slovenia repeatedly expressed their feelings about the fact that the reverse pipe and equipment that will be used to transport the energy resource are pretty worn out. Last summer, due to the condition of the equipment, it was problematic for experts to calculate the extent to which the reverse of gas from Slovakia will be carried out. The company "Ukraatransgaz" has finished the whole complex of preparatory works at the station "Uzhgorod" on August 7. All conditions were created for the European gas supply, in particular, a large number of technical issues were solved.

Start of supply

The reverse of gas from Slovakia was started on September 1, 2014. The opening of the valve was officially held in the town of Velke Kapushany. It was attended by the Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico and the Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk. Initially, the reverse was made in the control-test mode. "Blue" fuel was supplied to the country in the volume of 3 billion cubic meters. Already on September 2, the test regime was transferred to commercial, and fruitful cooperation began. At that time, forecasts, and today reality, said that as of March 1, 2015 more powerful deliveries would begin. The launch of the Voyany-Uzhgorod pipeline was successful. According to the Prime Minister of the country, the opening of a new fuel supply channel made it possible to reduce the percentage of Ukraine's dependence on Russia. Approximately 40% of the state's fuel needs are satisfied. In the long term, a full 100% guarantee of Ukraine's energy security is planned. Huge expenses from the budget were reduced due to the fact that the European reverse of gas began to be realized. The signing of the memorandum of reverse deliveries between Ukrtransgaz and Eustream took place on April 28, 2014. Two formats of reverse were specified:

• Small (no more than 2 million cubic meters of fuel per day).
• Large (no less than 30 billion cubic meters of fuel during the year).

Saving and not only

The fuel economy for 2014 was about $ 500 million. Today, the country is using the reverse of gas from such countries as Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. Russia is fundamentally inclined to ensure that the reverse of gas to Ukraine is not carried out, as this will lead to a significant reduction in revenues. Fundamental measures were taken, in particular, the volume of deliveries from Russia to a number of European countries was significantly reduced.

Sanctions on gas supplies from Russia

Russian Gazprom, in parallel with the official registration of partnership between Ukraine and Slovakia, in 2014 began to actively reduce gas supplies. According to the publishing house Ekho Moskvy, after the launch of the new pipeline, the volume of fuel supplied to Slovakia was reduced by 25%. Similar actions, but already towards Hungary, led to the fact that the state lost one of the most powerful sources of fuel. After Russia cut supplies to Poland, the country suspended the reverse for several days. At the height of the crisis, in early autumn of 2014, Moscow closed all channels for Ukraine. The state has established relations with a new partner in the person of Slovakia. The reverse of gas to Ukraine is carried out in the promised format. After a while, Russia not only resumed the whole volume of supplies to Europe through the territory of Ukraine, but also increased it by 7%, which made real the reverse of gas. "Gazprom" remains the most powerful supplier of "blue" fuel.

Search for an alternative partnership scheme

Against the backdrop of negotiations and building new partnerships between Ukraine and Slovakia, Russia offered a discount for direct gas supplies to Ukraine at a rate of $ 100 per cubic meter. At the same time, a proposal was made for an accurate calculation for the volume of gas separately for the summer and winter periods, which would allow optimizing expenditures from the state budget. Such a format of cooperation was rejected. Starting from March 1, 2015, Slovakia, the reverse of Ukraine's gas, according to UNN, carries out at least 10, as was expected at the first stage of the partnership, and 14.5 billion cubic meters per year. Due to the way the gas is reversed today, Ukraine has blocked more than half of its fuel needs. The volume of supplies to Ukraine due to the reverse is now 27 million cubic meters of fuel per day. Initially, the pipeline system "Voyany-Uzhgorod" could supply gas in the amount of 10 billion cubic meters per year. Now, the remaining 4 gas pipelines, providing a two-way fuel exchange of 100 billion cubic meters. Over the past few years, about 55 billion cubic meters of "blue" fuel from Russia to Europe were transported via the country's gas pipelines on average.