reverse gas - is one of the most common economic and political terms, is very common in publications and news.The phenomenon is not new and is seen in the history of post-Soviet countries quite often.Try to understand what it means to reverse the gas.
What is the reverse?
reverse gas - it's quite an old phenomenon, the polemic against whom held since the days of the presidency of Yanukovych.In practice, the economic phenomenon is associated with recurrent gas supplies.In other words, after the buyer receives fuel from the seller, it forwards it to the opposite direction.If we consider the concept of the example of Ukraine, for it will be characterized by some features.This is due to an underdeveloped pipeline structure, which distorts the structure of the smuggled fuel.Simply put, the concept involves the sale of gas from the supplier, in the case of Ukraine - Russia, another country at a better price.For example, convey of Poland to Ukraine of Russian gas and is the reverse.
Distinguishing features Ukrainian reverse
reverse gas to Ukraine has a unique circuit and specificity.The territory of Ukraine - Russia is the road to Europe, as it was through its open spaces have to send gas to the EU.When transporting the fuel through the territory of the country, part of it remains in the "Naftogaz".In fact, the percentage of the volume of smuggled fuel (10% previously) called it "reversed."Specificity redirecting the gas flow within the state lies in the fact that a separate, specially equipped gas pipeline to return to the country from Europe does not exist.The situation when Ukraine reserves of the supplies themselves, conventionally called "reverse."According to the documentation, the country receives gas from the reversal of Slovakia.
Making Sense legal side of the issue
Due to the nature of conditional "return gas" to Ukraine, should pay attention to the contradictions.Russian legislation allows for the delivery of fuel from Europe only with specially equipped pipe (physical media).In fact, no tube from Slovakia to Ukraine did not exist until 2014.According to the documents, the gas becomes property of the buyer only if it crosses a special checkpoint located on the border between Slovakia and Ukraine, as well as with other countries, prominent consumers of Russian "blue" fuel.In the presence of reverse gas pipes from Slovakia would not be lawful for the reason already that the formal contract for the supply of fuel and clearly written, "Naftogaz" in this situation acts only as an operator.The media have repeatedly appeared with the publication of forecasts about what "convey of gas" from Slovakia did not take place.At the beginning of September 2014 the process was started, and continues to develop rapidly.
Start a Successful cooperation
August 16, 2014 began testing the pipeline, which already supplies gas to Ukraine through the territory of Slovakia.The testing phase consisted of run and test the reliability of the system.Representatives of Slovenia have repeatedly expressed their feelings in relation to the fact that the reversing pipe and equipment that will be used for the transportation of energy resources, badly worn.In the summer of last year because of the condition of equipment experts were difficult to calculate how much gas will be the reverse of Slovakia.The company "Ukratransgaz" finished the whole range of preparatory work at the station "Uzhgorod" is already on 7 August.For the European gas supplies were all conditions, in particular the number of solved numerous technical issues.
Deliveries
Reverse gas from Slovakia was launched September 1, 2014.Valve opening officially took place in the town of Velke Kapušany.It was attended by the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk.Originally produced in the reverse control test mode."Blue fuel" supplied to the country in the amount of 3 billion cubic meters.Already 2 September test mode has been translated into commercial and fruitful cooperation began.While predictions and reality today, said that since March 1, 2015 will begin the more powerful delivery.Commissioning of the pipeline "Voyany-Uzhgorod" was successful.According to the Prime Minister of the country, opening a new channel of delivery of fuel has allowed to reduce the percentage of Ukraine's dependence on Russia.Satisfied 40% of the fuel needs of the state.It is planned to complete 100% energy security of Ukraine.Huge budget expenditures have been reduced by the fact that it began to carry out European reverse gas.Binding Memorandum of Reverse supplies between the companies "Ukrtransgaz" and Eustream took place 28 April 2014.It was agreed two formats reverse:
- small (no more than 2 million cubic meters of gas per day).
- Large (at least 30 billion cubic meters of gas per year).
savings not only
save on fuel for 2014 was about $ 500 million.Today, the country is using a reverse gas from countries such as Poland, Slovakia and Hungary.Russia dramatically set out to reverse the gas to Ukraine was not carried out, as this would lead to a substantial reduction in revenue.They have been taken drastic measures and, in particular, significantly reduced the volume of imports from Russia a number of European countries.
sanctions on gas supplies from Russia
Russian "Gazprom", parallel to the formalization of partnership between Ukraine and Slovakia, in 2014 began to actively reduce the supply of gas.According to the publishers, "Echo of Moscow", after the launch of a new pipeline, the amount of fuel supplied to Slovakia, decreased by 25%.Similar actions, but in the direction of Hungary, led to the fact that the state has lost one of the most powerful sources of fuel.After Russia cut supplies to Poland, the country for a few days suspended reverse.In the midst of the crisis in early autumn 2014, Moscow closed all channels for Ukraine.The government has established a relationship with a new partner in Slovakia.Reverse gas Ukraine is in the promised format.Russia after some time not only renewed the entire volume of gas supplies to Europe through Ukraine, but also to increase it by 7%, which made a real reversal of the gas."Gazprom" is the most powerful supplier of "blue" fuel.
Alternative schemes partnership
Against the background of the negotiations and the construction of a new partnership between Ukraine and Slovakia, Russia offered a discount on direct gas supplies to Ukraine in the amount of $ 100 per cubic meter.This proposal was made as to the exact calculation of the volume of gas separately for summer and winter periods, which would optimize the cost of the state budget.A similar form of cooperation was rejected.Starting from March 1, 2015, Slovakia reverse gas to Ukraine, according to UNN, performs in the amount of not less than 10 as foreseen in the first stage of the partnership, and 14.5 billion cubic meters per year.Due to the fact, as there is reverse gas today, Ukraine shut down for more than half of its fuel requirements.The volume of gas supplies to Ukraine due to reversal today reaches 27 million cubic meters of gas per day.Initially, the pipeline system "Voyany-Uzhgorod" could provide gas supplies in the amount of 10 billion cubic meters a year.Now the work and the rest of the pipeline 4, a two-way exchange of fuel in the amount of 100 billion cubic meters.Over the past few years through the pipelines of the country average was shipped about 55 billion cubic meters of "blue" fuel from Russia to Europe.
