The blow that managed yesterday (20.3.2025) Ukrainian drones at the metering station gas of Sunja in Russia means that the return of Russian supplies is now difficult to return through Ukraine to Europe. These flows were interrupted in late 2024 and until recently it was hopeful that they could be repeated when the war ended.
After the latest developments, the whole issue is on a different basis in the peace negotiations. At the same time, alternative scenarios are qualified for utilizing the Network and Natural Gas warehouses of Ukraine with quantities from sources other than Russia.
As is well known, our country is involved and supports the vertical corridor, a chain of pipelines and infrastructures extending from Alexandroupolis to Ukraine, with the aim of supplying south to north. The ambition is that this will meet both the needs of the Ukrainians and other states, such as Slovakia and Hungary.
According to Politico, the EU It now supports this venture with more emphasis than before. Brussels sources have said that gas from Greece and Turkey could be stored in the huge Ukraine facilities, so that the surrounding markets were transported during the winter.
Quantities can reach up to 10 billion c. annually, which will particularly stimulate the demand for the Alexandroupolis LNG terminal and will probably create the need for even more corresponding infrastructure in our country.
However, there are still significant obstacles. The most basic is Romania’s huge charges for the south. In practice, the Romanian tariffs make these quantities non -competitive and should be reduced in order to make the whole plan to practice.
Traders in the area believe that under the present circumstances, gas should be subsidized in order to gain a position in the regional market.
However, the vertical corridor is expected to be high on the EU agenda. From now on, as Brussels seek to co -ordinate energy. The fact that the corridor will also carry American gas is an additional argument for a convergence between the US and the EU. in the relevant discussions.