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Russia Promises Full Gas Supply After Europe Reports Shortfalls

Posted on: Tuesday, 3 January 2006, 09:00 CST

Russia promises full gas supply after Europe reports shortfalls

MOSCOW, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Russian gas giant Gazprom promised on Monday to restore full gas supply to European countries by Tuesday evening after they reported shortfalls following Russia's cutoff of gas supply to Ukraine.

"We have taken all necessary measures to make sure Europe receives the complete volume of gas. By tomorrow evening, full supply to Europe will be restored in line with our contracts," Gazprom deputy chairman Alexander Medvedev was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.

Earlier, in a telegram to Ukraine's national oil and gas company Naftogaz Ukrainy, Gazprom said the company had decided to pump an extra 95 million cubic meters of gas per day to European countries - - the equivalent to the amount that Gazprom accused Ukraine of stealing from the pipelines that run across its territory.

Gazprom renewed its demand that Ukraine stop unauthorized use of gas intended for European clients and expressed readiness for more talks to resolve a grueling dispute over the gas price that gave the Ukrainians a chilly start to the new year and sent shivers through other parts of Europe.

Some central European countries, such as Poland, Hungary and Austria, have borne the brunt of a gas cutback from Gazprom, reporting drops in gas deliveries from Russia. Germany urged Russia on Monday to "act responsibly" in the gas dispute with Ukraine.

Medvedev said his company would not permit Ukraine's illegal tapping of gas to "go on for ever."

"Preserving such a situation would mean encouraging theft on the path of our gas to Europe. Therefore, all our foreign partners are warned that, while we are doing everything possible to keep up our gas exports to Europe, Ukraine would bear all the responsibility for any possible disruption of exports," Medvedev said.

Gazprom provides about half the gas consumed in the European Union and 80 percent of that amount is sent through pipelines that cross Ukraine.

Gazprom said maximum use has been made of the Blue Stream and Yamal-Europe pipelines to compensate European consumers for the shortfalls in the Ukraine pipelines.

Source: Xinhua News Agency - CEIS

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