Ukraine on Wednesday, May 15, started importing natural gas from Slovakia in test mode, Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine Eduard Stavytsky said in Kyiv on Wednesday.

"We have started [gas imports]. We will perform test gas imports and exchange information within 7-10 days," he said.

As reported, Slovakia is the major corridor of gas supplies from Europe to Ukraine. Ukrtransgaz proposed that the Slovak side use one of the four existing gas pipelines to supply gas in reverse mode, which will provide gas receipts of up to 10 billion cubic meters per year. The Ukrtransgaz experts are working jointly with the representatives of Eustream (Slovakia) on the Interconnection Agreement.

As reported, with reference to Ukrtransgaz, in April this year Ukraine imported 120.1 million cubic meters of natural gas from Europe. Poland pumped a record high volume of gas of 102 million cubic meters into the country's gas transportation system (GTS), which is 4.2 times higher than in March (24.3 million cubic meters).

In addition, in the same month, Hungary pumped 18.1 million cubic meters of gas. Gas imports through this country began on April 1.

In general, from November 2012 to May 1, 2013 the total pumping of natural gas to Ukraine's GTS through Poland and Hungary had amounted to about 291 million cubic meters.

Imports of Russian natural gas to Ukraine in April amounted to 800.8 million cubic meters. Thus, in April Ukraine imported about 921 million cubic meters of gas.