DISINFO: Ukrainian gas transmission system an environmental disaster worse than Chernobyl
SUMMARY
The gas transmission system of Ukraine. It is an environmental disaster the world has not seen before. It is worse than Chernobyl because it emits extremely harmful substances into the environment. And these guys did not allow Russia to repair and clean it in due time…. This is a leaky pipeline, it is outdated and rusty, it is crumbling into dust. Even the most condescending environmental tender will say no to the [Ukrainian] gas transmission system.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative claiming that the Ukrainian gas transmission system (GTS) is ineffective, outdated, and environmentally harmful. The Ukrainian GTS is a reliable system. For the last 20 years, the incident rate has not exceeded the level of 0,06 incidents per 1,000 km, whereas in the Russian Federation, it was 0,22 incidents per 1,000 km. More on the reliability of the GTS can be read here. Furthermore, Ukrtransgaz has been certified according to European standards in the following sectors: quality management system, environmental management system, occupational health and management system, and energy management. The international certification company TÜV SÜD (Germany) made positive conclusions concerning whether the GTS complies with the global standards of environmental management systems, quality management, safety, and energy management after carrying out the comprehensive audit of Ukrtransgaz JSC (the state company that operates the GTS). Auditors confirmed that Ukrtransgaz is a reliable partner and manages the pipeline in a safe and energy-efficient way. In the last five years, Ukraine invested 4,1 billion UAH in the modernisation and restoration of the protective coatings of the main gas pipelines and modernised 720 km of pipelines in this way. Only in 2019, Ukrtransgaz managed to modernise the coatings on 75 km of pipes. In 2018, Ukrtransgaz started the modernisation programme of compressor stations. One of them was the Bar compressor station in Vinnytsia region which is located on the “Soyuz” gas pipeline. After the modernisation is complete, the efficiency of energy conversion will grow by 11%, gas losses will be reduced and the pipeline will comply with the EU environmental standards.