Russia warns of possible halt in oil supplies to Europe

BRATISLAVA - Russia has warned of a possible halt in oil supplies to three European Union (EU) members via Ukraine, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico said Monday.

Russia had informed the EU that Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary could be affected by disruptions in oil supplies in the New Year, Fico told a news conference in Bratislava.

Unresolved oil transit issues between Russia and Ukraine, including pricing, are behind the looming disruptions.

“It’s not about a shortage of oil,” Fico said, “but about a bilateral dispute between two countries which are not EU members but are vitally important for Slovakia and a few other EU nations when it comes to energy supplies.”

The three countries affected get their oil from Russia via the Drushba (friendship) pipeline. Slovakia is virtually dependent on Russian oil.

Hungary’s Energy Ministry confirmed Monday that it had been informed by the EU Commission of Russia’s warning there could be a bottleneck in oil deliveries via Ukraine from Jan 1.

Hungary has oil reserves sufficient for 909 lines. It also gets oil via another pipeline from the Adriatic via Croatia.

In January 2009, a price dispute with Ukraine prompted Russia to halt gas supplies to Europe for several days, leaving some countries without heating during severe winter weather.