Gazprom says it can’t reroute flows to another entry point. Ukraine and Russia clashed over natural gas sent via pipelines to Europe in a spat that could disrupt supplies from the former Soviet Union nation for the first time since the war started. The Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine said Russian gas flowing via one of two key entry points will stop from Wednesday as occupying forces disrupt operations, according to a statement on its website. The network manager said the fuel could still be rerouted to avoid a supply interruption. But Russian gas giant Gazprom PJSC said the switch isn’t possible because of how its system works. Russia has been sending gas via Ukraine normally despite the conflict, but Kyiv had already warned Russia that the actions of its troops and occupiers in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine could end up halting about a third of the gas it exports to Europe. Ukraine’s gas network manager said Tuesday that it can’t meet its contractual obligations to receive Gazprom supplies via the Sokhranivka border point. A Gazprom spokesman said the company was notified by Ukraine of the pending disruption, but didn’t receive any confirmation of force majeure. (,,..) Ukraine’s gas grid said it can no longer accept Russian gas transit via Sokhranivka from 7 a.m. local time. It added that flows could be rerouted via Sudzha, a suggestion Gazprom rejected. “Ukraine doesn’t bear responsibility for gas transit via Russia-occupied territories and Gazprom was properly informed about that,” Ukrainian state-run energy company Naftogaz said in a statement on its website. Naftogaz said it offered to reroute the gas, a switch that it said presents no technical difficulties and doesn’t involve additional costs for Russia. Ukraine can guarantee the safe transportation of gas only via territory it controls, which is why it offered to reroute, Naftogaz said.
via bloomberg: Ukraine, Russia Gas Clash Escalates Threat to Europe’s Supply Ukraine won’t accept some Russian gas from 7am, grid says