russian gas may be masked as Azerbaijani supply through Ukraine – former GTSOU Chief

Ukraine may end up transporting russian gas disguised as Azerbaijani supplies, as Azerbaijan lacks the capacity to replace russia’s 14 billion cubic meters transiting through Ukrainian territory, warns Serhii Makohon, General Director of the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine (GTSOU) in 2019-2022. 

During a briefing at Media Center Ukraine, Makohon outlined the supply constraints. “Azerbaijan currently sends 13 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe, with no additional reserves to substitute for the 14 billion cubic meters of russian gas moving through Ukraine. To meet this demand, Azerbaijan would need to double its exports to Europe, but it simply does not have that capacity,” he noted. Makohon cautioned that any rebranding would be purely on paper. “In reality, it will be the same russian gas produced in Urengoy, but legally labeled as Azerbaijani. The documentation will claim it’s Azerbaijani gas, while the molecule remains russian. As a result, russia will continue to pocket around USD 5 billion from this gas transit to Europe,” he concluded.

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