SPP: We Continue to Guarantee Safe Gas Supplies

Bratislava, January 1 (TASR) - State-owned gas utility SPP continues to guarantee safe supplies of natural gas as it has been preparing for the stoppage of supplies from Gazprom Export for a long time, SPP told TASR on Wednesday, adding that they will use other available sources to ensure sufficient quantities as well as the best price for their customers by combining the chosen business opportunities. According to SPP, the security of natural gas supply rests on three main pillars. "The first pillar is the diversification trade agreements for the purchase of gas from non-Russian sources concluded with BP, Exxon Mobil, Shell, ENI and RWE. These contracts are flexible and we are able to increase not only the required amount of gas but also the duration of these contracts," noted SPP head Vojtech Ferencz. The second pillar of security of gas supply is diversified transport routes. "Slovakia has gas pipeline connections with each of the neighbouring countries. Natural gas can thus be transported from any direction," said SPP. The third pillar of security of supply is natural gas stored in storage tanks. "We currently have about 20 percent more gas in storage in Slovakia than we had a year ago. In addition, we have taken the decision that our storage capacity will be filled to 100 percent not only at the beginning of the heating season, but also at the beginning of the year, that is in January 2025," added Ferencz. SPP also pointed out that any alternative will be significantly more expensive. am/mcs