Maroš Šefčovič: Capacity of gas pipeline via Ukraine irreplaceable

The transit of gas via Ukraine is of strategic importance and needs to be maintained in the future, European Commission vice-president for Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič said at the GLOBSEC security forum on Sunday. "It's an enormous gas highway with a capacity of 140 billion cubic metres yearly. The capacity of Ukrainian transit to the EU cannot be fully replaced, regardless of any other project currently discussed," stressed Šefčovič. He doesn't see any economic merits behind the alternatives. "Is it necessary to start new large projects with the sole intent being only to bypass Ukraine? Ukraine is prepared to undertake very painful reforms: it passed a new bill on gas that copies European legislation," claimed Šefčovič, adding that he still expects a rational discussion that will take the cost-benefit ratio, interests of European energy security and effective economic solutions for gas exporters and importers into account.