Slovakia seeks more Russian gas imports ahead of EU ban

The national gas provider of Slovakia, SPP, is currently engaged in negotiations with PJSC Gazprom to expand its imports of natural gas from Russia throughout the remainder of this year and into 2026. This move comes as the nation seeks to secure energy supplies ahead of a looming European Union ban on Russian fuel. The discussions were initiated prior to a recent surge in European gas prices, which spiked by 50% following a halt in liquefied natural gas exports from Qatar. This disruption followed military actions involving the United States and Israel against Iran, as well as subsequent retaliatory measures from Tehran. The energy landscape has been further complicated by the broader volatility in global markets, where benchmarks like Brent Crude Oil often reflect the geopolitical tensions affecting the region. For SPP, which manages approximately two-thirds of the gas demand in Slovakia, the need for stable supply is paramount. In 2025, the company reported that only one-third of its gas originated from Russia, a significant drop from previous years when Russian supplies accounted for the majority of its 3 billion cubic meters in annual imports. This decline followed the termination of gas transit through Ukraine in December 2024. To compensate for the loss of the Ukrainian route, Slovakia began importing gas via Turkey last year, although infrastructure constraints have limited the total volume of these flows. If the current talks with Gazprom are successful, sources indicate that SPP could potentially increase its Russian gas intake to cover up to 100% of its requirements until the 2027 deadline. While European Union regulations generally prohibit member states from increasing contract volumes for Russian gas as part of sanctions related to the invasion of Ukraine, certain amendments to existing long-term contracts—such as SPP’s deal which runs until 2034—are permitted under specific conditions. Any such contractual adjustments would require a formal exemption and an assessment by the Slovak Economy Ministry. Looking beyond the immediate future, SPP is preparing for the mandatory cessation of Russian pipeline gas by November 1, 2027. The company has already received roughly 20 offers for alternative supplies and is exploring import routes for LNG through Poland, Germany, and Italy. Slovakia, alongside Hungary, currently maintains an exemption from the EU ban on Russian oil due to the geographical challenges of accessing alternative sources. However, these oil imports have faced recent interruptions due to technical damage sustained by the Druzhba pipeline.