The Iranian Oil Ministry downplayed the importance of the recent threat by the European Union to ban imports of Iran's natural gas supplies, reminding that Iran has no gas export to the EU members at all, FNA reported.

• October 6, 2012

Latvian President Andris Bērziņš cut the ribbon at the festive opening of the Valka heating and electricity station which is the fist investment of Estonia's state-owned energy company Eesti Energia in Latvia, LETA/Postimees Online reports.

• October 6, 2012

A delegation headed by Azerbaijani Minister of Economic Development Shahin Mustafayev will visit Budapest to participate in the third meeting of the Azerbaijani-Hungarian Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation, spokesman for the ministry Abbas Aliyev told Trend on Friday.

• October 6, 2012

A Snapshot of Key Developments in the External Relations of the Russian Gas Sector for September 2012
By Jack Sharples, EGF Associate Researcher on the external dimensions of Russian gas

Key points:

• The European Commission launches an antitrust investigation of Gazprom, as the company is suspected of imposing unfair prices in Central and Eastern Europe. Gazprom claims innocence, but a Presidential Decree preventing Russian strategic companies (such as Gazprom) from disclosing information to foreign investigators without Russian government permission suggests that Moscow is concerned about the investigation.
• President Putin claims that the second line of Nord Stream is to be launched on 8 October, although this is yet to be confirmed by Nord Stream AG, Gazprom, or the Russian Energy Ministry.
• South Stream AG considers tenders for steel pipes for South Stream, as Gazprom vows to continue with the project despite the launching of the antitrust investigation of Gazprom by the European Commission.
• Gazprom hosts a meeting with the Chinese National Petroleum Corporation and claims ‘a step forward’ in long-running negotiations, although sources suggest significant disagreements remain between the two parties.
• As Ukraine seeks lower gas purchases (27 bcm) from Russia in 2012, a new winter dispute cannot be ruled out.
• Gazprom indefinitely suspends the Shtokman project, but signs a long-term cooperation agreement with Rosneft for the development of Russia’s continental shelf.
• Gazprom and Japan’s Agency for Natural Resources and Energy sign a Memorandum on the Vladivostok LNG project – with a final investment decision expected in early 2013.

• October 6, 2012

Russia extended its military presence in Tajikistan for 30 years on Friday in a deal to secure the southern fringes of its former Soviet empire after NATO troops leave Afghanistan.

• October 5, 2012

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said Thursday that with good progress in relationship between Pakistan and Russian Federation over the years, there is consensus in Pakistan that our relations with Russian Federation should be further strengthened. Russia is very important because of its linkages with Europe and Asia, he added.

• October 5, 2012

On October 5, the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received the delegation led by Enrique Accorsi, the Chairman of the Commission on Poverty Reduction, Social Development and Planning of the Chilean Chamber of Deputies, head of the Chile-Azerbaijan friendship group, APA reports.

• October 5, 2012

Tajikistan has invited Azerbaijani businessmen to participate in an international economic forum which will be held in country's Sogd province, a report published on Wednesday on the official Azerbaijan Export & Investment Promotion fund (AZPROMO) website says.

• October 3, 2012