The operator of Ukraine’s natural gas grid reported Tuesday it would have to suspend service at a critical point for gas transport through the country because of Russia’s increased “military aggression.”
Gas TSO of Ukraine (GTSOU) confirmed it was declaring a force majeure at the gas metering station at Sokhranivka and the compressor station Novopskov. Both facilities are on the far-eastern border with Russia.
Up to 32.6 million cubic meter/day flow through the Novopskov compressor station into Europe. GTSOU said the station handles almost one-third of the Russian gas imports that head into the continent.
Representatives with GTSOU said the facilities and several other critical parts of the country’s gas infrastructure were now under Russian-controlled territory, and it “cannot carry out operational and technological control” over the assets.
It is the first such declaration out of Ukraine since the conflict began in February.
In a statement, representatives for the operator said Russia’s invasionary forces were causing “interference” with its ability to safely maintain the system, including “unauthorized gas offtakes from the gas transit flows.”
GTSOU could transfer some of its transit obligations for European clients to the Sudzha interconnection point further north, according to the operator.
