EGF Gazprom Monitor, Issue 24, May 2013

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.