Slovakia aims for agreement by Tuesday on end of Russian gas supplies, sanctions
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Fico: Slovakia wants to reach agreement on gas supplies and sanctions against Russia by Tuesday
Slovakia aims to reach an agreement with the European Commission and EU partners by Tuesday, July 15. Prime Minister Robert Fico said he discussed Slovakia’s concerns with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Friday and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Saturday. Slovakia is blocking the 18th package of EU sanctions due to its disagreement with the EU Commission’s proposal to stop all imports of Russian gas from 2028. According to Bratislava, this could cause shortages, price increases, and higher transit fees.
This was stated by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Saturday, Ukrinform reports with reference to Reuters.
Slovakia is blocking the 18th package of EU sanctions due to its disagreement with the European Commission’s proposal to stop all imports of Russian gas from 2028. According to Bratislava, this could cause shortages, price increases, and higher transit fees, as well as lead to claims for damages from Russia’s Gazprom.
“We need to win something in this fight, though it will not be a 100-0 result,” Fico said. “We want political commitments, guarantees from partners and the Commission that this problem will not remain only on Slovakia’s back,” Fico said.
According to him, it is currently unclear whether an agreement will be reached, as some issues remain unresolved.
He added that one of the key topics of the negotiations is the limitation of transit fees that Slovakia will have to pay for alternative routes for the supply of non-Russian gas.
Fico also said that he discussed Slovakia’s concerns with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Friday and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Saturday, but did not provide any details.
Slovakia currently receives most of its blue fuel from Gazprom under a long-term contract valid until 2034. This amounts to about 3.5 billion cubic meters of gas per year.
After Ukraine stopped the transit of Russian gas through its territory at the end of 2024, Slovakia began receiving part of its supplies through Turkey and Hungary.
Although only a majority vote in the EU Council is required to approve the European Commission’s proposal to stop Russian gas imports, sanctions against Russia require unanimity.
As reported by Ukrinform, EU member states intend to approve the 18th package of sanctions against Russia, but Slovakia and Hungary are blocking them.
Slovakia Holds the EU at Bay over Russian Gas Sanctions
Slovakia is in urgent negotiations with the European Commission to reach an agreement by Tuesday. Prime Minister Robert Fico announced the country’s stance on Saturday, emphasizing the need for assurance against potential energy shortfalls and economic ramifications.
Discontent with the Commission’s proposal to cease all Russian gas imports by 2028, Slovakia is blocking the EU’s 18th sanctions package. Fico aims to leverage this to secure political commitments that would prevent Slovakia from bearing the brunt of energy supply issues.
Slovakia’s current gas supply heavily relies on a long-term agreement with Gazprom, valid until 2034. Due to geopolitical tensions, alternative routes via the Turkstream pipeline and Hungary have become essential. The ongoing discussions include settling on fair transit fees and ensuring Slovakia’s energy security post-2028.
Slovakia aims to reach agreement with EU on Russian gas by July 15 — PM Fico
Slovakia aims to reach agreement with EU on Russian gas by July 15. PM Fico: “I will not throw Slovak national interests into the garbage can” PM: Russian gas remains essential for Europe. Bratislava insists that EU must clarify what will happen to Russian gas supplies after conflict in Ukraine is resolved.
Slovakia aims to reach agreement with EU on Russian gas by July 15 — PM Fico
Slovakia intends to reach an agreement with the European Union by Tuesday, July 15, regarding supplies of Russian gas to the bloc, a ban on which has been proposed by the European Commission starting January 1, 2028, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico told journalists, Report informs via TASS.
“Slovakia wants [to reach] an agreement with the EU by Tuesday on Bratislava’s demands concerning the European Commission’s plan to phase out Russian gas imports by the end of 2027,” Fico said. “By Tuesday, I believe we can achieve something,” he added.
At the same time, he noted that it is difficult to predict when an agreement satisfactory to Bratislava will be reached and when the EU will be ready to adopt new anti-Russian sanctions. “I will not throw Slovak national interests into the garbage can,” he stressed. “We want political guarantees from our partners. We cannot accept the [18th] sanctions package. We simply cannot, because Slovakia does not support it,” the prime minister stated.
According to Fico, Russian gas remains essential for Europe. Bratislava insists that the EU must clarify what will happen to Russian gas supplies after the conflict in Ukraine is resolved, given the proposed ban on importing Russian energy resources.
Exclusive: MMG, Hudbay warn Peru copper output at risk amid wildcat protests, sources say
MMG and Hudbay copper mines face potential production impact. Peruvian officials aim to end a temporary program that allowed informal mining by year’s end. Hundreds of informal miners around the country pressed Peru’s government to extend a deadline to regularize their operations. July’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to fall 0.2% due to the road impacts, Peru’s central bank said on Friday. The companies did not immediately reply to requests for comment.. A person familiar with Las Bambas said the site’s production remained normal for now. The company produced more than 320,000 metric tons of copper last year, making it Peru’s fourth-biggest miner. The country is the world’s third-largest copper producer, and it exports most of the red metal to China. The region supplies almost 40% of the country’s gold.
Summary
Companies Protests by informal miners block key transit route
MMG and Hudbay copper mines face potential production impact
Peru’s government maintains deadline to end informal mining program
Peru’s central bank expects July GDP to dip 0.2% due to roadblocks
LIMA, July 11 (Reuters) – MMG (1208.HK) , opens new tab and Hudbay Minerals (HBM.TO) , opens new tab executives met with Peru’s cabinet chief this week to warn that production at their copper mines could be affected if a two-week protest by informal miners along a major transit route continues, two sources told Reuters on Friday.
The Las Bambas mine of Chinese firm MMG and the Constancia mine of Canadian company Hudbay in the Cusco region are among Peru’s top ten copper producers.
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The companies did not immediately reply to requests for comment. A person familiar with Las Bambas said the site’s production remained normal for now.
Protests in other parts of the country have also affected logistics, including in the gold mining stronghold of Pataz in northern Peru.
July’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to fall 0.2% due to the road impacts, Peru’s central bank said on Friday.
One of the sources, who attended the meeting with MMG and Hudbay, but was not authorized to comment, said concern at Las Bambas and Constancia was mounting over the impediments to copper-loaded trucks to transit freely.
The blockades along a road that connects mines to the coast began in late June as hundreds of informal miners around the country pressed Peru’s government to extend a deadline to regularize their operations.
“Large vehicles that supply and transport the mineral cannot pass,” the person said. “Both companies are still operating, but they mentioned that if the situation continues for much longer, it could become complicated.”
Las Bambas produced more than 320,000 metric tons of copper last year, making it Peru’s fourth-biggest miner. Constancia ranked ninth, with about 99,000 tons of copper.
Peru is the world’s third-largest copper producer, and it exports most of the red metal to China.
Peru’s cabinet chief, Eduardo Arana, in a statement on Thursday evening said he met with Hudbay and MMG, and emphasized the government’s commitment to fostering dialogue between companies and communities.
The statement did not provide further details about the protests, or address their potential impact on copper output.
In Pataz, gold miner Poderosa said the blockades have hit its operations, particularly over the past week.
“The mining companies in Pataz are severely affected. We’re now almost without food and basic supplies to operate,” said Poderosa’s corporate affairs head, Pablo de la Flor. The region supplies almost 40% of the country’s gold, its biggest mineral export after copper.
Despite the protests, Peruvian officials aim to end a temporary program that allowed informal mining, called REINFO, by year’s end.
Informal miners have protested numerous times to extend REINFO. It began in 2012 as a short-term scheme to formalize miners operating outside the law, but has been criticized for enabling illegal mining that harms the environment.
Reporting by Marco Aquino in Lima, Writing by Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Matthew Lewis and Marguerita Choy
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Trump blocks acquisition of equipment supplier Jupiter Systems by Hong Kong firm
President Donald Trump ordered the blocking of the acquisition of audiovisual equipment supplier Jupiter Systems by Hong Kong’s Suirui International. The U.S. Treasury Department said the deal was found to be a national security risk. The two companies entered into a deal in early 2020. Washington, in particular Trump, has repeatedly cast China as a security threat in certain U.s. sectors and the world’s two largest economies have had tensions for years spanning issues such as trade tariffs.
WASHINGTON, July 11 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump ordered the blocking of the acquisition of audiovisual equipment supplier Jupiter Systems by Hong Kong’s Suirui International after Suirui was found to be a national security risk, the U.S. Treasury Department said on Friday.
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States reviewed and investigated the deal and “identified a national security risk arising from Suirui’s ownership of Jupiter relating to the potential compromise of Jupiter’s products used in military and critical infrastructure environments,” the Treasury Department said in a statement.
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The department termed Suirui “a company organized under the laws of” China . Suirui describes itself as a cloud communication service carrier.
The two companies entered into a deal in early 2020. The order asks the Hong Kong firm to divest from the U.S. company in 120 days.
technology, Washington, in particular Trump, has repeatedly cast China as a security threat in certain U.S. sectors and the world’s two largest economies have had tensions for years spanning issues such as trade tariffs cybersecurity and geopolitics.
“To address this risk, the President’s order directs Suirui to divest all interests and rights in Jupiter and requires that Jupiter hold no interest or rights in any assets or operations of its Chinese subsidiaries acquired or created after the completion of the transaction,” the U.S. Treasury Department said.
Jupiter Systems said it was aware of the order and was “actively reviewing the decision in consultation with legal counsel and our stakeholders.” It added that it “did not anticipate any disruptions to its business while the matter was adjudicated.”
The Chinese embassy in Washington and Suirui had no immediate comment on Friday. Beijing has previously dismissed accusations of posing a threat to U.S. security and businesses.
Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Chris Reese, Mark Porter and Muralikumar Anantharaman
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