Slovakia and Ukraine agree over gas supply

GAS TANK

Slovakia and Ukraine have reached a deal that will allow gas from Central Europe to reach Ukraine via Slovakia.

Under the deal Slovakia will reinstate a disused pipeline that will be capable of supplying 3 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas a year to Ukraine.

Ukraine has been looking for alternatives to Russian gas, which last year accounted for around a half of its 55bcm consumption.

In April, German energy firm RWE began deliveries of gas via Poland.

Under that deal RWE can supply up to 10bcm of gas a year.

Russia has almost doubled the price of gas for Ukraine, following the toppling of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovich in February.

Also, Ukraine owes Russian gas firm, Gazprom $2.2bn (£1.3bn) for supplies of gas.

The two nations are in dispute over that debt and Ukrainian officials are concerned that Gazprom could just cut off the nation's supply of gas.