Bulgaria's Chiren Gas Storage Has Enough Gas for 3 Months

Bulgaria's Chiren underground gas storage contains enough gas to meet the country's needs for three months with some restrictions, according to a media statement of the Energy Ministry.

The information was released in response to Tuesday's escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine over gas supplies and the warning of Gazprom that there could be problems with deliveries to Europe in two days.

The Energy Ministry, as cited by dnevnik.bg, assures that the pressure at the entrance of Bulgaria's gas transmission system is normal at present.

The total quantity of gas stored at the Chiren facility is nearly 247 million cubic meters of gas.

On Tuesday, Russian energy giant Gazprom warned that it could halt gas supplies to Ukraine, adding that this would most probably cause problems in Europe.

According to Gazprom Spokesperson Sergey Kupriyanov, Ukraine's government has not made an advance payment for new gas supplies as required under an agreement from October 30, 2014.

The country is therefore left with a total of just 219 million cubic meters of gas that will suffice for two days.

According to Ukraine's Naftogaz, however, Russia is not fulfilling its contractual obligations.

Gazprom was requested to deliver 114 million cubic meters of gas on February 22 and February 23 but the company supplied 47 million cubic meters of gas plus 39 million cubic meters of gas instead.

The discrepancy is due to the launch of supplies of Russian gas to rebel-controlled areas in eastern Ukraine, at around 12 million cubic meters a day.

Gazprom calculates the gas deliveries for eastern Ukraine as part of Ukraine's total consumption.