Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico on Monday agreed to establish an Eastern European energy hub, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported.
“It will strengthen the energy security of both our states and the entire European region,’’ Shmyhal said after a meeting with Fico near Ukraine’s western city of Uzhhorod.
Shmyhal said that the energy hub aimed to utilise Ukraine’s gas storage facilities, develop the Mukachevo-Velke Kapusany electricity interconnector between the two countries, and enhance nuclear energy cooperation.
He further said that Ukraine did not plan to extend its natural gas transit contract with Russia, which will expire this year.
However, Kiev remains committed to fulfilling its obligations under the Association Agreement with the European Union and the Energy Charter Treaty, Shmyhal said.
Ukraine’s state-run energy company Naftogaz and Russia’s gas giant Gazprom signed a gas transportation agreement in December 2019.
Last year, Russia transported 14.646 million cubic meters of gas through Ukraine. (Xinhua/NAN)
