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A 500-km pipeline from
Kobrin (Belarus) to Velke Kapusany (Slovakia) is the least expensive way to
bypass Ukraine. As a matter of fact, Gazprom was considering the construction of
this pipeline, but the project was abandoned in
February
2002, shortly after Alexei Miller was appointed CEO of Gazprom. Note that
this ROW is located in Poland and Slovakia, and the pipeline construction costs
in the EU are several times lower than at similar
projects in European Russia. According to Mr. Miller,
"this gas
supply route to our European consumers that is the most efficient" one
for Gazprom.
The least expensive route
from from Bovanenkovo to Baumgarten (Austria), without crossing Ukraine, runs through
Yamburg, Punga, Pochinki, Gryazovets,
Nesvizh, Kobrin and Velke Kapusany. The existing pipelines between Yamburg and Kobrin have
enough spare capacity to accommodate additional flow from the Yamal peninsula.
PDF copy of
the map can be downloaded from here.
To deliver gas from Yamal to Austria without Ukrainian
transit, Gazprom could have built just two relatively short pipelines -
Bovanenkovo-Yamburg and Kobrin-Velke Kapusany. The alternative route
via the Black Sea requires a way more time and money.
Mikhail Korchemkin
East European Gas
Analysis
Malvern, PA, USA
May 13, 2014
Reproduction or use of
materials is allowed only with reference to East European Gas
Analysis or www.eegas.com
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