Russian Minister to Intervene with Gazprom on Slovakia Gas Flow

Russia's Energy Minister Alexander Novak will intervene with Gazprom to raise reduced gas shipments to Slovakia to contracted levels, Slovakia's economy ministry said on Wednesday after bilateral talks in Moscow.

Slovakia says natural gas flows to its national importer SPP have been reduced by up to 50 percent versus requested amounts since September 5, with Gazprom explaining the reduction by the need to fill up its storage.

"Russia's energy minister made a public promise to (Slovak) Economy Minister Pavol Pavlis that he will personally intervene with the highest leadership of Gazprom to return supplies of gas for Slovakia to contracted levels because contract conditions need to be fulfilled," the ministry said in a statement.

The ministers also agreed to sign a new oil shipment and transit contract on December 5 to replace an existing agreement which expires at the end of the year.

(Reporting by Jan Lopatka,; Editing by Michael Kahn)