It will be hard for Russia to export gas to Europe bypassing Ukraine, including through the Turkish Stream, both from technical and legal viewpoint, Marosh Shefchovich, deputy chairman of the European Commission for Energy Union Affairs, said at the EU Energy Safety Conference organized by the European Union Auditors’ Chamber.
“I have not seen a technical solution to this problem (construction of the Turkish Stream). It is very difficult to change the route to transport 60 billion cub.m. of gas and ensure its delivery to the zone, which is not prepared for that,” he said.
As far as legal side of the issue is concerned, Shefchovich said: “Europe is a very good gas buyer, which pays in time and good prices. It has concluded long-term contracts with the European companies, which stipulate not only gas prices and volumes, but also places of its delivery, which are Turkish border and Eastern and Central Europe.”
He once again urged to help to preserve Ukraine’s status of transit country for the Russian gas deliveries.