Gazprom continuing to pump around 40 mcm of gas via Ukraine as per Wednesday's booking, only Sudzha entry point accepting volumes

MOSCOW. June 8 (Interfax) - Ukraine's Gas Transport System Operator (OGTSU) has accepted a booking from Gazprom for Wednesday to transport 41.4 million cubic meters of gas through the country compared to 40.9 mcm on Tuesday, data from OGTSU indicate, with capacity pumping through only the Sudzha metering station, one of two entry points into Ukraine's Gas Transport System, and no pumping via the Sokhranivka metering station.

"Gazprom is supplying Russian gas for transit through the territory of Ukraine at the volume confirmed by the Ukraine side via the Sudzha metering station at 41.4 million cubic meters on June 8, with no booking via the Sokhranivka metering station," Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov told reporters.

The OGTSU has declared a force majeure regarding accepting gas for transit through Sokhranivka, saying that it cannot efficiently control the Novopskov compressor station.

Gazprom believes that there are no grounds for the force majeure nor any obstacles to continuing operations as usual. "Ukrainian specialists have worked regularly at the Sokhranivka metering station and the Novopskov compressor station all this time, and continue to do so. Transit through Sokhranivka has been ensured in full, and there have not been any complaints from counterparties," Gazprom notes.

Meantime, the Ukrainian side insists that payment must still be remitted based on the calculated pumping volume as per the long-term agreement at 109 million cubic meters per day under the "pump-or-pay" principle. Gazprom indicates that the Ukrainian side has reduced the possibility of pumping by one third, while Naftogaz Ukraine declares that it is currently receiving less payment for transit from Gazprom, and that it is preparing an appeal for arbitration.