EGF Gazprom Monitor ![PDF](/bitrix/templates/egf/images/pdf.png)
(117 Kb)
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:
- The tortuous legal wrangling between Gazprom, the Lithuanian government, and Lithuania’s main gas utility,
Lietuvos Dujos, continues; Gazprom set to finalise its bid for Greece’s gas distribution system operator, DEPA;
Gazprom could construct Baltic LNG terminal
- Gazprom rejects an invitation to attend a high level ministerial seminar in Brussels on Ukraine’s energy market,
which was jointly organised by the European Commission and the Ukrainian energy ministry; Ukraine could
cede control over its gas transit pipelines in exchange for guaranteed transit and a gas price discount
- The construction of South Stream in Serbia will begin in late 2013 according to Srbijagas; South Stream Chief
Exec, Marcel Kramer, confirms that South Stream is on schedule for financing in early 2014 and construction of
the first line in 2015
- Gazprom and CNPC aim to sign a gas supply contract by the end of 2013; Gazprom could lose its export
monopoly in the Asia-Pacific region; freight deliveries from Northern Russia to China via the Northern Sea
Route demonstrate the possibilities of LNG exports from Northern Russian to the Asia-Pacific region.
- Rosneft steps up the pressure on Gazprom with its buyout of Itera.
READ MORE
- EGF Editorial |
Published on EGF: 05.06.2013
| External Relations
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EGF Turkey File ![PDF](/bitrix/templates/egf/images/pdf.png)
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Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics during April 16 th - May 15th 2013
By John VanPool, EGF Turkey and Black Sea Regional Analyst
Key Points:
- Domestic politics heat up as the opposition CHP accuses Prime Minister Erdogan of authoritarianism in
seeking the presidency after his term as prime minister is up.
- A judicial reform aimed at clarifying aspects of Turkish terrorism laws aims to placate EU critics and could
lead to the release of hundreds of imprisoned activists.
- Turkey continues to avoid direct military intervention into Syria’s civil war, though fears of the sectarian
conflict’s spread has the country on edge.
- U.S. sanctions aimed at Iran’s nuclear program necessitate Turkish efforts at diversifying its energy reliance
away from Tehran.
- Israel makes overtures to Ankara regarding a natural gas pipeline in the eastern Mediterranean, while
TANAP is set for construction to begin following ratification of the agreement by both Turkish and Azerbaijani
parliaments.
READ MORE
- EGF Editorial |
Published on EGF: 18.05.2013
| External Relations
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EGF Gazprom Monitor ![PDF](/bitrix/templates/egf/images/pdf.png)
(130 Kb)
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:
- Negotiations between Russia and Lithuania over their gas relationship and the unbundling over LietuvosDujos
continue; Polish Treasury Minister and PGNiG Chief Executive are sacked as a result of a EuRoPolGaz-Gazprom
agreement to investigate the possible expansion of the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline
- Gazprom boycotts a high-level roundtable held by Ukrainian and EU representatives on the future
management and development of Ukraine’s gas transport system, and warns European energy companies
against reselling Russian gas back to Ukraine, as Ukraine continues to seek alternatives to Russian gas imports
- Gazprom and Gasunie agree to investigate the possibility of expanding the Nord Stream gas pipeline, with
Gazprom eyeing an increase in gas exports to the British market, despite the current under-utilisationof the
existing Nord Stream pipeline
- Gazprom announces that the spatial planning and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports for South
Stream in Slovenia are almost complete and that construction could begin next year; Bulgarian government
announces a review of South Stream, but pledges to continue with the project; Construction of the Serbian
section of South Stream could start by the end of 2013, rather than in 2014 as planned
- Gazprom announces its 2012 financial results; Rosneft continues to challenge Gazprom in the sphere of gas
exports by announcing talks with ExxonMobil over the construction of an LNG export terminal in Russia’s Far
East; Beltransgaz to be renamed Gazprom Transgaz Belarus to reflect Gazprom’s takeover
READ MORE
- EGF Editorial |
Published on EGF: 16.05.2013
| External Relations
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EGF Turkey File ![PDF](/bitrix/templates/egf/images/pdf.png)
(95 Kb)
Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics during April 1-15th 2013
By John VanPool, EGF Turkey and Black Sea Regional Analyst
Key Points:
- Turkey and Israel take small steps in resuming normalized relations. Both are to formalize financial
compensation for the Mavi Marmara incident, while Turkey is leaning on the victims’ families to drop their
court cases against Israeli military personnel.
- NATO is set to benefit from the reset which allows Israel’s participation in alliance activities as a member of
the Mediterranean Dialogue.
- Energy cooperation brings Turkey and the KRG of Iraq closer in spite of Baghdad’s objections. Turkish-Anglo
firm Genel is set to profit from its early investments into the oil fields in the Kurdish north of Iraq.
- A cease fire continues to hold between the government and PKK, though Kurdish fighters are reluctant to give
up their arms until a formal peace deal is agreed to. AKP leadership on the issue is causing splits in the main
opposition CHP, with a nationalist camp opposed to the talks causing a pronounced rift to emerge in the
party.
- A Turkish pianist is charged with hate speech for incendiary remarks against Muslims on his Twitter account.
His conviction and other cases of free speech prosecutions are a dark stain on the AKP’s otherwise impressive
governing record.
READ MORE
- EGF Editorial |
Published on EGF: 27.04.2013
| External Relations
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International community welcomes release of Ukraine's ex-interior minister, expects jailed ex-premier to be freed ![PDF](/bitrix/templates/egf/images/pdf.png)
(2 Mb)
ISSUE # 13
04/15/2013
The EU welcomes the pardoning of former Ukrainian Interior Minister Yuriy
Lutsenko, the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy,
Catherine Ashton, and the EU commissioner for enlargement and neighborhood
policy, Stefan Fule, said on 8 April 2013. The EU officials added that Brussels was
anticipating Kiev's decision on the remaining cases of what it saw as selective
justice. READ MORE
- Gorshenin Weekly |
Published on EGF: 19.04.2013
| External Relations
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Yanukovych pardons ex-interior minister ![PDF](/bitrix/templates/egf/images/pdf.png)
(2 Mb)
ISSUE # 12
04/08/2013
On 7 April 2013, President Viktor Yanukovych pardoned former Interior Minister
Yuriy Lutsenko.
The pardon application was referred to the president by ombudsman Valeriya
Lutkovska. READ MORE
- Gorshenin Weekly |
Published on EGF: 12.04.2013
| External Relations
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EGF Turkey File ![PDF](/bitrix/templates/egf/images/pdf.png)
(89 Kb)
Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics during March 16-31 st 2013
By John VanPool, EGF Turkey and Black Sea Regional Analyst
Key Points:
- A cease fire is declared by PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan to coincide with the Kurdish New Year. PKK fighters
cross into Iraq, though the next steps in the process remain unclear.
- Leftist militants attack the Ministry of Justice and AKP headquarters in Ankara while Erdogan visits Denmark.
Prime Minister pins the blame on the “Deep State”.
- Israel officially apologizes for the Mavi Marmara incident and promises to compensate the victims’ families.
Full diplomatic relations are restored between the once close allies and Erdogan offers a conciliatory note on
his huge diplomatic success.
- Iraq and Turkey continue to work on planning a Basra-Ceyhan oil pipeline despite rift over Iraqi-Kurdistan. In
apologizing to Turkey, Israel’s future for cooperating with Turkey on a gas pipeline project looks bright
READ MORE
- EGF Editorial |
Published on EGF: 09.04.2013
| External Relations
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EGF Gazprom Monitor ![PDF](/bitrix/templates/egf/images/pdf.png)
(120 Kb)
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:
- Lietuvos Dujos confirms its decision to spin off its gas transport business by the 31st of July 2013, with Gazprom
and E.On expected to sell their stakes in the Lithuanian gas utility by October 2014; Gazprom agrees a deal with
the Czech-based MND Group to construct a new underground gas storage facility in the Czech Republic by
2016; Gazprom signs a long-term gas supply contract with Serbia; Gazprom denies reports that it has offered to
fund the restructuring of Cypriot banks in exchange for gas exploration rights in Cyprus’ exclusive economic
zone
- Gazprom is unlikely to offer significant gas price cuts to Ukraine, as the company dismisses Ukrainian plans to
import more gas from other European sources; The European Commission supports the idea of a trilateral
consortium including Naftogaz, Gazprom, and European energy companies to manage Ukraine’s gas transport
system
- Nord Stream has operated at just 27 percent of its capacity since the launch of the second string in October
2012
- Gazprom is reportedly considering constructing a spur of South Stream to Greece, but stands by its decision to
remove the Greece-Italy connection from the project. The fate of South Stream’s spur to Greece may well be
decided by the outcome of the privatisation of Greece’s national gas utility, DEPA, in which Gazprom is
considering bidding for a stake
- Gazprom and the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) sign a Memorandum of Understanding on gas
supplies via the Eastern route, and hope to sign a gas supply contract by the end of 2013
- Russia’s Energy Ministry supports proposals for the export of LNG by Novatek and Rosneft to the Asia-Pacific
region, but insists that Gazprom retains its monopoly on gas exports to Europe; Gazprom to complete its
purchase of Kyrgyzstan’s national gas system by the end of March.
READ MORE
- EGF Editorial |
Published on EGF: 09.04.2013
| External Relations
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