Activists from the Greenpeace organisation interrupted the Central European Energy Conference in Bratislava with a protest on Monday, demanding a solution to the energy crisis. Their banner read: gas = energy crisis. They pointed out that the only way to achieve real energy security, a safe climate and affordable energy for all is to switch to renewable energy sources. The activists interrupted the opening discussion on increasing energy security, which was attended by Economy Minister Karel Hirman. The Minister announced that the export of products made from Russian oil to Ukraine should not fall under European Union sanctions. Importing diesel and petrol is strategically important for Ukraine and the ban on the export of these petroleum products is causing problems for the Slovnaft refinery in Bratislava. He added that the current energy crisis signals the end of the fossil fuel era, but the transition to new energy sources will not be easy. According to Hirman, the next winter should be without problems for Slovakia. In mid-November, Slovakia's storage tanks were 94% full of gas, out of a total capacity of 3.4 billion cubic metres.
Source: TASR
