Novak: special working group to discuss capacity utilization on Opal gas pipeline
MOSCOW. Aug 29 (Interfax) - Utilization of capacity on the Opal gas pipeline will be discussed in the near future by a special working group, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told journalists following talks with European Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger.
Novak said the decision was put off until September 15, citing information from Oettinger. "Now they will revisit this issue in order to have a solution worked out by September 15. We have tried to convince Oettinger that this is an absolutely correct decision and in the interests of both European consumers and the European Commission, to genuinely provide for full utilization of the pipeline's capacity. This reduces existing transit risks," Novak said.
"Questions concerning Opal will be discussed by a working group that will be at work in coming days and perform a final reconciliation of all the figures and calculate consumption volumes by European consumers, gas transmission volumes, underground storage withdrawals, in order to ensure reliable passage through the winter period," Novak said.
Fully utilizing Opal capacity was one of the four issues Novak and Oettinger discussed at the meeting in Moscow.
Novak added that issue with the construction of the South Stream gas pipeline were not discussed on Friday.
