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

Key points:

• Lithuania files a €1.5bn ($2bn) lawsuit against Gazprom, claiming the Russian company has abused its position as monopoly gas exporter to Lithuania since 2004
• RWE Transgas wins a landmark case against Gazprom, as it refuses to pay fines for breaking the ‘take-or-pay’ clauses in its gas supply contract
• Naftogaz reaches an agreement with Germany’s RWE Trading for trial gas supplies via Poland
• Gazprom officially launches the second line of Nord Stream, and announces plans for two additional lines
• South Stream gets the green light to be realised on the territories of Serbia and Hungary, with similar developments expected in relation to Bulgaria and Slovenia in November
• Gazprom confirms the development of the Chayandinskoe gas field and related pipeline infrastructure as part of its plan to increase LNG exports to the Asia-Pacific region
• Gazprom signs a contract for LNG supplies to India and announces an increase in its LNG supplies to South Korea
• Gazprom officially launches gas production at the Bovanenkovo gas field, as part of its Yamal Megaproject
• Rosneft cements its role in Russia’s gas sector, but supports Gazprom’s continued export monopoly

• November 15, 2012

Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi said on Wednesday that Iran has stopped importing natural gas from Turkmenistan, the Mehr News Agency reported.

• November 14, 2012

The Azerbaijani parliament must protest against recent statements of Uruguay's MP and his illegal visit to the Azerbaijani occupied territories, Azerbaijani MP Ganira Pashayeva said at a plenary session of the Parliament today.

• November 14, 2012

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Philip Gordon will visit Georgia this weekend.

• November 14, 2012

ISSUE #44
11/12/2012
On 8 November 2012, the Ukrainian Central Electoral Commission (CEC) concluded the processing of 100 percent of official vote count reports in the national multipleseat constituency in the 28 October parliamentary election. According to the obtained results, the pro-presidential Party of Regions garnered 30 percent of the popular vote, United Opposition Fatherland - 25.54 percent, boxing champion Vitaliy Klitschko's party UDAR – 13.96 percent , the Communist Party of Ukraine – 13.18 percent and the far-right all-Ukrainian Freedom association – 10.44 percent. READ MORE

• November 14, 2012

Iran will build four oil tankers and invest in a number of oil refining projects in Venezuela, the Fars News Agency reported on Monday.

• November 13, 2012

US hopes to develop cooperation with Azerbaijan in education sphere, U.S.Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Richard Morningstar told journalists on Tuesday.

• November 13, 2012

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili will pay a working visit to Brussels on Nov.13-14.

• November 13, 2012