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:

• Gazprom suffers a setback as the Lithuanian parliament approves construction of an LNG plant at Klaipeda as part of efforts to reduce dependence on Russian gas, but agrees a gas price discount for E.On and extends contract with Moldovgaz, potentially halting Moldova’s implementation of the Third Energy Package
• Mixed fortunes for Gazprom in Turkey as the company wins the right to sell gas to private Turkish energy companies, but suffers a setback with the announcement of a Turkish-Azerbaijani agreement on the construction of the TANAP pipeline
• The Nord Stream project is on schedule for the second string launch in Q4 2012. CEO Alexei Miller suggests that Nord Stream could be extended to the UK
• Macedonia and Respublika Srpska reiterate their enthusiasm for South Stream, but the date of final investment decision and the application of the EU Third Energy Package remain unclear
• Putin meets Yanukovych in Yalta but refuses demands for gas price discount
• More negotiations between Gazprom and CNPC, but with no breakthrough
• Shtokman talks delayed with a result not being expected until autumn 2012
• Gazprom is ranked as the world’s most profitable company by Forbes, but only comes 98th of 105 in transparency rankings according to report by Transparency International
• Novatek begins construction of Sabetta LNG terminal in Yamal region, but claims no threat to Gazprom’s export monopoly
• Rosneft expands its presence in the Russian gas market with an acquisition of a 6 percent stake in independent gas company Itera

• EGF Editorial  |  Published on EGF: 06.08.2012  |  External Relations
•  

Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics during July 2012
Key Points:

• Syria is in the grips of a full fledged civil war, with opposition forces assassinating the country’s minister of defense and other high ranking officials in a Damascus meeting of senior regime officials.
• Fighting has escalated near the Turkish-Syrian border. Turkish military units are being deployed as a precaution, especially in light of reports of PKK forces seizing portions of northern Syria.
• Oil exports from the Kurdish region of Iraq to Turkey continues to draw the ire of government officials in Baghdad. However, despite the disputes, cooperation on projects will likely continue.
• Azerbaijan’s energy minister weighed into the NABUCCO West Vs TAP debate, saying the former was the best option for delivering Shah Deniz gas to Europe.

• EGF Editorial  |  Published on EGF: 06.08.2012  |  External Relations
•  

ISSUE #29
07/30/2012
Even though Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych expressed concern over the launch of criminal cases against some media outlets and issued an order to check the legality of actions, the Kiev prosecutor's office is continuing to investigate a criminal case against staff members of the Lb.ua news and analysis website. READ MORE

• Gorshenin Weekly  |  Published on EGF: 03.08.2012  |  External Relations
•  

Introduction
Debates about the geopolitical, geo-economic and strategic significance of the wider-Black Sea (WBS) region have become fashionable amongst Western policy makers and the international scholarly community since the end of the Cold War. While the Black Sea represented a “front line” in the stand-off between rival superpower blocks during an age which now seems to have slipped into the bygone days of our youth, the major geopolitical realignments which have taken place in Eurasia during the last two decades have evidently led to our “re-discovery” of one of the world’s most historically significant geostrategic playing fields. READ MORE

• Marat Terterov and George Niculescu  |  Published on EGF: 31.07.2012  |  External Relations
•  

• Dr. Oktay Tanrisever  |  Published on EGF: 27.07.2012  |  External Relations
•  

ISSUE #28
07/23/2012
Despite multiple statements of a prosecutor's office in the mass media that there is no criminal prosecution of the Lb.ua news and analysis website, we learned on 18 July that a criminal case was launched against the website's employees. READ MORE

• Gorshenin Weekly  |  Published on EGF: 27.07.2012  |  External Relations
•  

ISSUE #27
07/18/2012
Today, on 18 July 2012, the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office launched a criminal case against the news portal LB.ua on the fact of committing a crime against the member of Parliament from the Party of Regions Volodymyr Landik, provided for by articles 163 and 182 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of secrecy of written communication or other correspondence of a statesperson, transmitted via communications means and illegal collection, use and sharing of confidential information on the person, which has caused a substantial harm to the legitimate rights, freedoms and interests of the person). READ MORE

• Gorshenin Weekly  |  Published on EGF: 26.07.2012  |  External Relations
•  

ISSUE #25
07/02/2012
There are no grounds for revising the gas price under the current contract with Russia, the Lb.ua news and analysis website quoted Gazprom's deputy head Aleksandr Medvedev as saying during an annual meeting of the company's stakeholders on 29 June 2012. A price reduction can be achieved only on the basis of intergovernmental agreements, he added. READ MORE

• Gorshenin Weekly  |  Published on EGF: 13.07.2012  |  External Relations
•  

ISSUE #26
07/09/2012
On 12 July 2012, President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will chair the fifth meeting of the Ukrainian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission. The meeting will be held in Yalta, Crimea. READ MORE

• Gorshenin Weekly  |  Published on EGF: 13.07.2012  |  External Relations
•  

Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics during June 2012 Key Points:

• Syria shoots down a Turkish military plane, greatly heightening tensions between the countries.
• Although Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan threatens action in response to any further threats from Syria, domestic opinion polls from just prior to the incident show a Turkish public hesitant to confront the Assad regime.
• Meanwhile, the CHP and AKP party leadership meets in an attempt to revive reconciliation efforts with the country’s Kurdish minority.
• As constitution discussions continue, Erdogan’s statements on the necessity of a strong presidential office worries his critics who fear he will take over and extend his reign as head of the country following the end of his term as prime minister.
• In the energy sector, Azerbaijan and Turkey appear to have finalized the TANAP pipeline agreement while Turkish Energy Minister, Taner Yildiz, discusses the future of nuclear power in Turkey at the World Economic Forums.

• EGF Editorial  |   |  External Relations
•