Speaking out: Nobuo Tanaka
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Tanaka voices Russia gas fears
Europe's gas supplies are under near constant threat of disruption despite a new contract between Russian gas exporter Gazprom and Ukraine's Naftogaz, International Energy Agency (IEA) boss Nobuo Tanaka said today.
"The difficult economic situation in Ukraine makes every monthly payment a challenge, and tensions remain high," Reuters quoted him as saying in a statement.
"The IEA is therefore seriously concerned that the flow of Russian gas through Ukraine may be subject to disruption at almost any time."
Europe gets about 20% of its gas from Russia via Ukraine, supply lines that were cut during a row over payments in January.