Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov said this during a meeting with members of the Ukraine-EU international team of lawmakers and experts.
() - ´In fact, neither North nor South stream is an alternative to our GTS. We have 150 billion cubic meters of pumping capacity. We have large gas storage facilities, the surest and cheapest transport way to Europe, and we are ready to ensure its reliable operation,´ Mykola Azarov said.
He added that after modernization of the gas transportation system, its capacity will increase to 200 billion cubic meters a year.
The Prime Minister said that modernization of the GTS is economically beneficial both to Ukraine, the EU and Russia.
According to the head of government, the construction of South Stream is unprofitable and uneconomical, since this project can be paid back only in 20 years. The Prime Minister is convinced that the construction of South Stream is dictated by political considerations.
In addition, Mykola Azarov noted that, even having built the Streams, Russia will all the same be unable to get rid of dependence on transit across Ukraine, because it will be unable to save gas in storages.
The Prime Minister reminded that, during the abnormally severe frost this winter, Russia lacked gas to ensure uninterrupted supplies to Europe, and at the request of the Russian Federation the Ukrainian government allowed involving Ukraine´s gas reserves.
He noted that, if this situation repeats after launching the Streams, supplies to the EU may be put at risk.
´Building two gas pipelines, Russia for some reasons thinks it may completely get rid of dependence on gas transit through the Ukrainian territory. This will never happen, at least because neither South nor North stream has facilities to keep gas in storage. Only we have underground gas storages, and their capacity is colossal,´ Mykola Azarov underscored.