Slovakia opens pipeline to carry gas from the EU to Ukraine

By Robert Muller VELKE KAPUSANY Slovakia (Reuters) - Slovakia opened a pipeline on Tuesday able to deliver gas from the European Union to Ukraine, a link that could potentially supply up to 20 percent of the nation's annual consumption as Kiev grapples with a halt of Russia supplies ahead of winter. Russia has halted gas flows to Ukraine three times in the past decade - in 2006, 2009 and since June this year - because of price disputes with Kiev, although this year gas intended for EU customers have so far continued to flow via Ukraine. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico told a news conference at a pumping station near the Ukraine border that reverse flows from Slovakia, Hungary and Poland should cover Ukraine's mid-term gas import needs. Read More http://ift.tt/1usd9zm