Slovakia’s Gas Import Strategy and EU Regulations
By Jan Lopatka and Marek Strzelecki
SPP’s Negotiations with Gazprom
PRAGUE/WARSAW, March 6 (Reuters) – Slovakia’s national gas company SPP is in talks with Gazprom to increase Russian gas imports this year and next, compared with 2025 levels, ahead of a European Union ban on Russian gas, two sources familiar with the matter said.
Market Impact and Timing of Talks
EU gas prices have jumped 50% this week after Qatar halted liquefied natural gas exports following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliation. SPP began the talks before the conflict erupted.
Current and Future Russian Gas Supply
SPP said in November it had received only one third of its gas from Russia in 2025 to date, after transit through Ukraine ended in December 2024. Russian supplies had previously made up most of its roughly 3 billion cubic metres of annual imports.
The company may lift Russian purchases to as much as 100% of its needs until 2027 if discussions succeed, the sources said.
Slovakia last year switched to importing Russian gas via Turkey, but capacity constraints limited the flows.
SPP, which covers about two-thirds of Slovak gas demand, has a long-term supply contract with Gazprom running until 2034.
SPP and Gazprom declined to comment.
EU Regulations and Contract Amendments
EU rules bar countries from increasing contract volumes for Russian gas as part of the bloc’s drive to punish Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine, but they allow some necessary amendments to existing deals.
Contract Changes and Exemptions
One source said the talks included unspecified changes to the contract, which covers “large volumes”. Any amendment would require an EU exemption to be assessed by the Slovak Economy Ministry, the source added.
The ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
Future Supply Options Beyond 2027
EU states must end Russian LNG imports by the end of 2026, though pipeline flows can continue until November 1, 2027, if a country is struggling to fill storage with non-Russian gas.
Exploring Non-Russian Gas Alternatives
After then, SPP has been exploring options to potentially import LNG mainly via Poland and Germany, but also Italy, the sources said. One source added it had received around 20 offers for non-Russian gas after 2027.
Slovakia’s Broader Energy Exemptions and Challenges
Oil Imports and Infrastructure Issues
Slovakia, along with Hungary, is also exempt from the EU’s ban on buying Russian oil due to difficulties in accessing alternative supplies, though those imports have been disrupted recently by damage to the Druzhba pipeline.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Jan Lopatka and Marek Strzelecki. Aadditional reporting by Kate Abnett and Vladimir Soldatkin. Editing by Mark Potter)