SaS Party: There is enough gas in the EU, Slovakia is not dependent on Russian gas

Bratislava – Gas in Slovakia will not become more expensive, there is enough gas in Europe and we are not dependent on the Russian one. Gas prices are determined by the market and the only thing that could be different compared to other countries could be transportation fees. The opposition party Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) reacted to the statements of Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) on Tuesday, who stated that a complete halt to the supply of energy resources from Russia to the EU could mean an increase in gas prices for households in Slovakia by 30 to 50 %.

“Gas prices are determined by the market and the only thing that may be different compared to other countries are transportation fees. But again, the fees concern European states, so Robert Fico should go to Brussels in the case of fees and negotiate there about how the European Union or the European Commission can push for uniform fees,” said SaS MP and former State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy of Slovakia Karol Galek.

According to him, Slovakia relies too much on Russian gas, which Slovaks already have the most expensive in Europe. He added that Slovak entrepreneurs and large consumers currently have some of the highest prices per megawatt-hour. He also emphasized that gas storage facilities are half-empty compared to last year. While last year they were filled to 76%, currently, according to the MP, it is 42%.

SaS also pointed out the construction of a new nuclear source and that the state is selecting an investor without a tender.

“Today, Fico even announced to us that the supplier will be Westinghouse, no tender, just Westinghouse. The Minister Saková set it up very similarly in the energy law itself, which we had in the first reading at this session. In the case of smaller sources where the state will subsidize such electricity production, we are mainly talking about renewable sources, there will be a tender. But in the case of a huge nuclear source for 15 billion, Robert Fico will quietly choose it behind closed doors at the government office,” Galek said. (June 17)