Slovak MP: Development of corridor for Azerbaijani gas transit could help to stabilize supplies throughout EU

As of January 1, 2025, Russian gas transit through Ukraine has been stopped, causing reaction in Europe. This decision resulted from Ukraine's refusal to extend the contract with Gazprom, which in turn increased energy instability in the region. The consequences of this step are particularly noticeable for countries directly dependent on Russian gas supplies, such as Moldova, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Austria.

Beyond political and economic aspects, the transit stoppage raises questions about energy security, price stability, and the need to diversify supply sources. Despite filled gas storage facilities, the long-term consequences of this decision, including price increases and economic strain, will become a serious challenge for Central and Eastern European countries.

The Eastern European Bureau of Report discussed this situation with Slovak Parliament member Igor Šimko. In the interview, he explained how the cessation of Russian gas transit affected his country, what the prospect of using alternative supply routes is, and what measures are being taken to ensure energy stability.

- The suspension of Russian gas transit through Ukraine provoked a serious reaction in many European countries. How do you assess the situation?

- I must say that the complete stoppage of Russian gas supplies via Ukraine represents a fundamental and certainly not pleasant change for Slovakia. Even the Minister for the Economy, Denisa Sakova, has described this decision as an illogical step which harms not only us, but also the whole of Europe and, paradoxically, economically affects Ukraine itself to the tune of more than USD 1 billion, as many media report, but which will be passed on to its own citizens.

I think it has perhaps opened our eyes a little and shown us other possibilities, so that we can now see better how important it is to diversify energy sources and what it means for a country to be dependent on just one supplier. We fortunately have various import contracts from the west. You see, gas from Russia will continue to be imported, just through more expensive routes. Today, it is delivered to Western Europe by tanker by sea. The economics of this are not there for the states, only for these importers.

In addition, our gas reservoirs are full for the time being, and for this year the people of Slovakia need not worry - there will be plenty of gas, but the purchase of new gas will be at a higher price, which will be a burden on businesses and households.

- And what do you see as a way out?

- Since I studied RES, in the long term it is absolutely crucial to invest in renewable energy sources such as household sources - e.g. heat pumps, and in the modernisation of infrastructure, and the Ministry of Economy has already planned measures in this direction for this year. At the same time, we must constantly negotiate with all our partners in order to jointly find solutions to ensure energy stability and also the affordability of energy for people.

Slovakia will certainly act responsibly in order to protect the interests of the people of Slovakia in particular, but also to contribute to solutions that will strengthen energy security throughout Europe.

- How do you see the role of Azerbaijani gas?

As a member of the Committee on Economic Affairs, I see Azerbaijani gas flowing through Ukraine as more than an opportunity to ensure secure and affordable gas supplies for Slovak consumers, from large industrial companies to households.

Common sense is also what I advocate in the energy sector, which is why the development of a southern corridor for the transit of Azerbaijani gas could significantly help to stabilise supplies throughout the European Union. That is the key today, so that we do not just rely on 'Western gas', which, given the prices and availability, is often also originating from Russia, but is just liquefied and transported by sea, but we should have diversified routes in this way, too, towards Azerbaijan.

I absolutely support the fact that the Ministry of the Economy, under the leadership of the Minister for HLAS, Denisa Sakova, is interested in resolving and diversifying the situation.

Minister Saková also spoke in Brussels after her meeting with the European Commission about a number of options. It could be Azerbaijani gas or gas from Uzbekistan. Or that the Slovaks would have gas from Russia, which would be bought at the Russian-Ukrainian border via SPP and then transited through Ukraine as Slovak gas.

We still want to know from Ukraine what its options are, what options it can accept as its own, because this is how the Slovak Republic loses transit fees, how Ukraine loses transit fees, but also how the competitiveness of industry in the EU is really threatened.