Slovakia plans to phase out Russian gas
Slovakia is considering signing a long-term agreement with Azerbaijan on natural gas imports as part of its efforts to diversify its energy supply. According to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment Tomáš Taraba, Baku is viewed as a reliable partner, and the agreement aligns with the EU’s policy of reducing dependence on Russian energy sources.
This was reported by Report.
Slovakia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment, Tomáš Taraba, stated that the parties are currently discussing an agreement with a term of at least ten years, calling Azerbaijan a very reliable partner. In parallel, negotiations are ongoing regarding specific gas transportation routes to Central Europe, the volumes of future supplies, and an analysis of available gas pipeline infrastructure.
Earlier, Martin Huska, head of Slovakia’s largest energy operator SPP, confirmed that the company is exploring alternative options amid European sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine. In particular, the company is negotiating with the Azerbaijani state-owned corporation SOCAR. It is worth noting that the first test deliveries of Azerbaijani gas to Slovakia began as early as 2024 as part of a pilot project.
Despite these steps, Slovakia remains one of the few EU members that continues to import Russian oil (via the Druzhba pipeline) and gas (bypassing Ukraine via the Turkish Stream). Robert Fico’s government attributes this to the country’s significant historical and infrastructural dependence.
At the same time, the European Union has set clear deadlines for a complete phase-out of energy imports from Russia: imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) are scheduled to end by the end of 2026, and pipeline gas by November 2027, along with a ban on signing any new contracts with Russian suppliers.
Here is a reminder of the current gas rates for Ukrainians in 2026.
We previously reported that the NEURC updated gas bills for residential consumers.
Additionally, the gas giant Khubshan, located in the United Arab Emirates, was forced to completely suspend all operations for the second time.
