MINSK, 20 January (BelTA) – Transit of Russian gas via the Belarusian section of the Yamal-Europe transcontinental gas pipeline may be increased, Director General of Beltransgaz Vladimir Mayorov told a press conference on 20 January. The estimated capacity of the Yamal-Europe pipeline is 33 billion cubic metres per year, or about 90 million cubic meters a day, Vladimir Mayorov said. There is an opportunity to increase the transit volume up to 105 million cubic meters a day,” said Vladimir Mayorov. He also said that Yamal-Europe is a new pipeline equipped with modern gas pumping units. It can operate above the designed capacity if necessary. The transit volume can be increased if Gazprom decides to deliver additional volume of gas to the European customers. The increase in the transit volume is temporary. It is connected with the cold weather in Europe. At the same time the Belarusian side is interested in the additional volumes of transit on a permanent basis in the long run. “Such negotiations are underway, but everything will depend on the European customers,” Vladimir Mayorov said. According to experts, Europe’s demand for gas will rise in the mid-term perspective (5 or 7 years). Vladimir Mayorov confirmed that the Belarusian side is ready to provide safety and reliability of gas supplies both for domestic and foreign customers.

БЕЛТА