Slovak PM to meet EU Commission head on Ukraine gas transit
Adds Fico quotes, background in paragraphs 3-9
Dec 18 (Reuters) -Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday to discuss his hopes to continue gas supplies via Ukraine, Fico said on Wednesday.
Fico told a parliamentary committee that while the Ukrainian government rejected extending a transit contract with Russia's Gazprom amid war between the two countries, alternative solutions were possible to keep the gas route open next year.
Slovakia has a long-term contract with Gazprom and has been keen to keep receiving Russian gas through Ukraine, saying buying gas elsewhere would cost the country 220 million euros ($231 million) more in transit and may also raise the price of gas in Europe.
"I take into account the decision of the Ukrainian government that they do not want to extend the contract with Gazprom," Fico told the parliament's European Affairs Committee. "But that does not mean we cannot take gas from the east."
"We have solutions ... that Ukraine will not be transiting Russian gas, but will be transiting gas whose owner will be someone else."
Fico said Slovakia needed the Commission's backing for such arrangements, and he would discuss them with von der Leyen.
The Commission, however, reiterated on Tuesday that it did not support a contract extension nor another solution that would keep Russian gas flowing.
Slovakia has been taking around 3 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas per year from Gazprom via Ukraine, covering most of its demand.
Fico said overall flows through Ukraine could remain at around 14-15 bcm. This volume includes gas that has been flowing into Austria and also the Czech Republic.
($1 = 0.9533 euros)
Reporting by Jan Lopatka in Prague. Editing by Mark Potter
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