BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 8. Slovakia might access Azerbaijani gas through the execution of the Solidarity Ring (STRING) new regional gas pipeline project, intended for a potential annual gas pumping capacity of 5 billion cubic meters, Executive Director at the Slovak Gas and Oil Association (SGOA) Richard Kvasňovský said, Trend reports.
Kvasňovský mentioned that, alongside Norway and the US, Azerbaijan could further contribute as a gas source for Europe.
“This would represent a noteworthy boost to enhancing energy security, particularly for Central and Eastern European nations, considering their historical ties to the eastern gas pipeline network,” the SGOA director said.
He said that the Ring of Solidarity initiative is important in this context because it aims to increase gas imports from Azerbaijan through existing infrastructure (through Turkey), but only if cross-border connection speeds are improved.
Kvasňovský underscored Azerbaijan's significance as a key partner for the EU in endeavors to diversify natural gas sources.
He cited the memorandum on strategic partnership in the energy sector, which Azerbaijan and the European Commission signed in the summer of 2022 and which envisions a doubling of Azerbaijan's gas supply, as evidence of this.
Additionally, Miroslav Bodnár, a member of the Board of Directors at Eustream, said that Slovakia could receive gas through the Ring of Solidarity via Bulgaria.
“Currently, the problematic section of STRING is located on the border between Romania and Hungary,” said Bodnár.
To note, a memorandum of understanding was signed in Sofia in April 2023 to develop cooperation between the operators of gas transportation systems in Bulgaria (Bulgartransgaz EAD), Romania (Transgaz), Hungary (FGSZ), Slovakia (Eustream), and the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) within the Solidarity Ring (STRING) initiative.
The initiative is currently under review by the European Commission.