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

Key points:

• Gazprom and the Lithuanian Government both claim victory following the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce Arbitration Institute ruling over Lietuvos Dujos
• Gazprom signs contracts with four Turkish energy companies to supply 6 bcm of Russian gas from January 2013, replacing the volumes given up by Turkish state energy company, Botaş, in October 2011
• Nord Stream AG completes the welding of the second string of Nord Stream pipeline and requests permission to conduct research in Estonian territorial waters as part of plans for the expansion of the Nord Stream pipeline
• South Stream could be re-routed via Croatia, bypassing Hungary
• Putin and Yanukovych meet in Sochi, with Ukraine planning to reduce its Russian gas imports and hoping for an (unlikely) gas price discount
• Gazprom CEO, Alexei Miller, held meetings in Belarus, discussed investments in the gas transmission system of Beltransgaz and the expansion of natural gas as a motor fuel in Belarus
• Statoil withdraws from the Shtokman project, ceding its stake to Gazprom – Will Total follow suit?
• Novatek announces a breakthrough deal to supply gas to German utility company EnBW, as E.On Russia confirms that it will buy gas for its power stations from Novatek, not Gazprom, from 2013

• September 14, 2012

The United States and its Western allies have persuaded Russia and China to support a resolution critical of Iran’s nuclear defiance in hope of showing Israel that diplomacy is an alternative to military force in pressuring Tehran, diplomats said Wednesday.

• September 13, 2012

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has today held a meeting with South Korean counterpart Lee Myung Bak, who paid an official visit to Kazakhstan, the Kazakh Embassy in Korea said today, CA-NEWS reported.

• September 13, 2012

Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the relations with the Netherlands and Azerbaijan-Dutch Business Forum held in Baku will make another contribution to the development of cooperation between the two countries, Economic Development Minister Shahin Mustafayev said at the signing ceremony of the Declaration on the draft agreement on mutual protection of investments.

• September 13, 2012

Diplomats say the U.S. and its Western allies have persuaded Russia and China to join in criticizing Iran’s nuclear defiance to show Israel that diplomacy is an alternative to force in pressuring Tehran.

• September 12, 2012

China hopes the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will deal with the Iranian nuclear issue in an objective and balanced manner, a spokesman said Wednesday, Xinhua reported.

• September 12, 2012

Six world powers at a United Nations nuclear meeting on Wednesday sought to step up diplomatic pressure on Iran to allay concerns that it is seeking atomic bombs capability and help avert a new Middle East war.

• September 12, 2012

Kyrgyzstan and China have signed four documents at the meeting of Kyrgyz Prime Minister Zhantoro Satibaldiyev and Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China Hui Liangyu, KyrTAG reported on Monday.

• September 10, 2012