PRAGUE: Slovakia has sufficient oil, petrol and diesel reserves to last 210 days if supplies from Russia through Ukraine are halted, Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Monday, though he does not expect Kiev to interrupt deliveries.
The Ukrainian parliament approved a law on Aug. 14 to impose sanctions on Russian companies and individuals supporting and financing separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine a law that could be used to block oil and gas flows.
After a meeting with officials from state oil pipeline company Transpetrol on Monday, Fico acknowledged that any decision by Ukraine to cut oil supplies would be damaging for Slovakia but said: "We expect Ukraine, after signing the association treaty (with the European Union), will treat EU member states responsibly."
Slovakia now receives its oil through the Druzhba pipeline that crosses Ukraine from Russia. Fico said that Slovakia could also obtain oil via the Adria pipeline running from the Croatian coast through Hungary in the event that supplies are disrupted.
The Adria pipeline has capacity limited to 3 million tonnes a year but upgrades will double that figure by November, which would fully cover the country's needs, Fico said..
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