The next winter is approaching fast in natural gas terms. While temperatures are slowly rising in the Northern Hemisphere and the cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC hit peak bloom over the weekend, across the pond the EU Commission kicked off a fresh series of trilateral gas talks between Russia, the Ukraine… Keep reading →
After some initially-confused western reporting, it’s now clear Russia’s Gazprom finally did close a long-term natural gas deal with Chinese national oil company CNPC. However, there is still wide speculation about the agreed price – a sticking point that held up the deal’s closure for a decade – and equally if not more importantly, questions… Keep reading →
It appears Gazprom and CNPC reached an agreement on a widely-speculated deal that was expected to be consummated upon Putin’s China visit this week. Reuters is reporting a sales and purchase agreement was struck, but the New York Times reports it could just be a memorandum of understanding, which is not binding and indicates ongoing… Keep reading →
It appears increasingly likely that Russia’s Gazprom will finally ink a long-term natural gas supply deal with Chinese national oil company CNPC next week, although price negotiations continue, as they have for over a decade. China is set to receive greater volumes of gas from Turkmenistan – and recently met with the country’s President Gurbanguly… Keep reading →
As Russian president Vladimir Putin prepares to visit China, state-controlled Gazprom looks to be putting the finishing touches on a long-awaited gas supply contract to China. Negotiations have been ongoing for more than a decade, with price reportedly being the main sticking point. Chinese companies reluctant to pay European prices for Russian natural gas held… Keep reading →
Outgoing Eni CEO Paolo Scaroni sees the volatile standoff between Western powers and Russia over the Kremlin’s actions in Ukraine as a new low point for European energy security. Italian oil and gas company Eni serves as a conduit for gas sourced from Gazprom and delivered to European customers, a position that could be jeopardized… Keep reading →
Following Russian annexation of the Crimean Peninsula, tensions between the West and the Kremlin have been dangerously simmering. Meanwhile, the spotlight has moved to Eastern Ukraine where unmarked soldiers appear to be keen on destabilizing the situation further. Anti-Ukrainian agitators seized government buildings and police stations making a mockery of Kiev’s sovereignty. This sets up an ideal breeding… Keep reading →
The Atlantic Council presents a pessimistic view regarding the prospect of smooth natural gas flow through Ukraine to European customers. Russia’s continued aggression and, in the Council’s view, strong possibility that Russia will occupy additional Ukrainian territory makes gas supply disruptions likely. European support for Ukraine could also impact Russian gas supplies that do not… Keep reading →
The Ukraine crisis has reinvigorated European efforts to diversify its natural gas supply sources away from Russia amid reliability concerns, but numerous obstacles stand in that path. “Added to that, Europe is contractually obliged to continue taking delivery of Russian gas. Bernstein makes the point that Gazprom has about 120 bcm of take-or-pay contracts –… Keep reading →
Moscow and Beijing have danced around a natural gas supply deal for over a decade, with price being the major sticking point, but the current dust up with Europe over Ukraine could finally open the door to price conciliation. “Conversely, on the Russian side, Gazprom might finally sign a natural gas supply deal with China,… Keep reading →
