MOSCOW, August 30. /TASS/. Russian gas supplies to Europe via main export routes may remain at the level of previous days of around 42.15 mln cubic meters per day in transit through Ukraine and 33.5 mln cubic meters via Nord Stream on Tuesday, August 30.
Nominations for transit of Russian gas through Ukraine for August 30 via the gas distribution station Sokhranovka are absent, whereas nominations for transit via the Sudzha station roughly stand at around 42.15 mln cubic meters, according to data released on the website of the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine (GTSOU).
Meanwhile, Russian gas deliveries via Nord Stream, the main route for export of Russian gas to Europe, remain at the level of previous days of around 33.5 mln cubic meters per day, according to data provided by Nord Stream AG.
That said, amid lower gas supplies from Russia European countries continue pumping gas into their underground gas storage facilities (UGSF), with European gas storages at up to 80% full now, according to Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE). Earlier, the European Commission (EC) suggested that the occupancy level be introduced for EU gas storage facilities of at least 80% for 2022-2023 winter, and of 90% for all future winter periods.
Last week the spot price of gas in Europe surpassed $3,500 per 1,000 cubic meters on London’s ICE for the first time since early March, approaching an all-time high of March 7, 2022 when the exchange price of gas hit almost $3,900 per 1,000 cubic meters.
The price rose as the cost of Asian futures contracts on supply of liquified natural gas increased and deliveries via Nord Stream were expected to be completely stopped from August 31 to September 2 due to the repair of the only gas compressor unit remaining in operation.
Experts interviewed by TASS believe gas prices could rise to a record-breaking $5,000 per 1,000 cubic meters in winter in the event of cold weather and a reduction in stocks in storage facilities. In their opinion, there is no reasonable limit for spot prices on the market now.
Gas exports to non-CIS countries went down by 36.2% to 78.5 bln cubic meters in 7.5 months of 2022, according to Gazprom.
The Nord Stream gas pipeline, which supplies gas from Russia to Europe, has been used at about 20% of its maximum capacity since July 27 due to the shutdown of two gas turbines. One of them, built in Canada by Siemens Energy, was sent to Montreal for repairs. Due to Ottawa’s sanctions against Russia, the manufacturer initially refused to return the repaired turbine to Germany, but after numerous requests from Berlin, the company decided to do it. On July 25, Gazprom announced the forced shutdown of another gas turbine engine at the Portovaya compressor station. Consequently, only one turbine remains in working condition now.
Moreover, the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine has suspended the transit of gas to Europe via the Sokhranovka station since May 11 due to force majeure. As a result, Gazprom supplies gas for Europe through Ukraine via the Sudzha gas pumping station, while requests for pumping via Sokhranovka are rejected by the Ukrainian side.