EU Warns Ukraine Over Low Gas Stocks

[CHIMO]

STAVANGER, Norway -- Insufficient gas pumped into Ukraine's storage facilities could threaten supplies of Russian gas to Europe this winter, European Union Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said Wednesday.

His comments came a day after Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych sought to assure EU countries that the country would not siphon off gas from pipelines this winter.

"Will there be enough gas pumped into storage in Ukraine? That is my biggest point of concern for security of supply this winter," Piebalgs said.

During times of peak winter demand, Ukraine draws gas from storage to meet its own needs, and to ensure that flows through its pipelines from Russia stay high enough to meet European needs.

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2006/08/24/041.html