Romania’s gas imports through Ukraine are normal and, if there are interruptions, the gas flow can be easily redirected through other points of entry into the country, Ion Sterian, Transgaz’s general manager, told Agerpres on Thursday.

“There are no problems with imports through Ukraine. We have prepared for all possible scenarios and we will deal with any situation. Romania’s gas supply will not be affected,” Sterian said.

Romania currently imports 5.3 million cubic meters of natural gas per day through Ukraine, and its national consumption is of about 40 million cubic meters per day.

“Even if gas imports from Ukraine are stopped, gas flows can be easily redirected through the entry point from Negru Voda and other points. It is not a problem. We are lucky that Transgaz made its investments on time. At the moment, BRUA is operating at full capacity and all the stations we have built are operating at maximum capacity, in reverse flow (in both directions – e.n.), “said Sterian.

Other gas import pipelines in Romania are those in Giurgiu-Ruse (Bulgaria) and Arad-Szeged (Hungary).

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in a surprise televised speech on Thursday a military operation in Ukraine to defend the separatists in the east of the country, in the context in which there are tens of thousands of Russian soldiers deployed for weeks at the Ukrainian borders.