Czech Republic Concerned about Reduction of Pipeline Capacity from Germany
**Czech Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Sikela expressed concerns about the future gas supply of his country to the German government and the EU Commission. In a letter, he referred to a "significant reduction in capacity" at the Czech-German border crossing in Brandov, which was reported by the politician on the online platform X on Friday.
This would increase the likelihood that more natural gas would have to be imported from Russia to Central and Eastern Europe, criticized Sikela. The letter was therefore addressed to German Economy Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) and EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson. "I have called on both of them to cooperate - with the goal of eliminating this risk," explained Sikela. Bloomberg first reported on the letter. The Opal- and Eugal-pipelines lead from Brandov to the German Baltic Sea coast, where among other things the LNG terminal in Lubmin is located.
The absence of Russian imports would lead to both lower gas volumes in the German transport system and lower transit volumes, clarified German gas transport company Gascade in a statement. The offered injection capacities to Czech Republic reflected this fundamental changed market situation. Gascade therefore withdrew the offer of so-called dynamically assignable capacities. The use of these capacities is always fixed for previously defined transport paths.
The booking of "interruptible capacities" was still possible, it was stated. Gascade had offered injection capacity to Czech Republic at the border crossing point Brandov for the next five gas business years in the annual auction on July 1. However, the demand was "rather subdued". The company pointed out that for the supply of the Czech Republic, other transport routes were also available, for example via Slovakia.
- Following Sikela's concerns, there have been discussions in Germany and the EU Commission about the potential need for increased Natural Gas imports from Russia, due to the reduced pipeline capacity at the Czech-German border crossing in Brandov.
- Despite the reduced pipeline capacity, Germany's gas transport company, Gascade, still offers the booking of "interruptible capacities" to Czechia, suggesting alternative routes for Natural Gas supply, such as via Slovakia.
- If Russian Natural Gas imports were to cease, Germany would experience lower gas volumes in its transport system and decreased transit volumes, as acknowledged by Gascade, underscoring the importance of maintaining pipeline capacity for Central and Eastern European gas supplies.
