Slovene authorities expect reliable gas supply through the winter

Ljubljana – Slovenia is well prepared for the supply of natural gas in the upcoming winter, ensuring reliable and safe supply. Even the fact that with the new year there will be no more transit of Russian gas through Ukraine to Europe should not affect this, assures the Slovenian Minister of Environment, Climate and Energy Bojan Kumer.

“We have done a lot and we are very well prepared for the winter, so we are completely calm. If the worst-case scenarios, as happened before the winter of 2022, were to occur, we would have to take additional measures, but we believe that this will not be necessary,” he said.

He estimates that Slovenia is at the pre-crisis level or even in a better position regarding gas reliability and supply because it has diversified supply routes.

The supply of gas by pipeline from Algeria through Italy has been further increased, and according to the minister, contracts allow for the supply of around 45 percent of annual gas needs. This year, cooperation with Azerbaijan has been established, from where, according to his assessment, between 10 and 30 percent of needs could be supplied in 2025. Slovenia obtains the remaining necessary gas through the EU common market, and Slovenia also participates in the EU joint gas procurement mechanism.

Gas suppliers in Slovenia, according to Kumer, assure that they are ready and that ministry intervention is no longer necessary. The announced interruption of Russian gas transit through Ukraine to Europe should not affect Slovenia in terms of price or supply reliability. (September 27)