EGF Gazprom Monitor, Issue 68, January 2017

A Snapshot of Key Developments in the External Relations of the Russian Gas Sector

By Dr Jack Sharples, EGF Associate Researcher on the External Dimensions of Russian Gas and Lecturer in Energy Politics at the European University of St Petersburg

• Gazprom and the EU:
  • Gazprom on the European market: Gazprom submits its formal commitments to the European Commission as it seeks a settlement of the antimonopoly investigation; EU Competition Commissioner Vestager says further talks needed before Gazprom proposals are put out to market test
  • Gazprom in the Baltic region: Gazprom receives 34% stake in new Latvian pipeline operator, Conexus Baltic Grid, as part of unbundling of Latvijas Gāze
• Nord Stream: Gazprom increases, and then cuts, gas flows via the OPAL pipeline in January
• Southern Corridor: Lower and Upper Houses of the Russian parliament ratify the Turkey-Russia Intergovernmental Agreement on Turkish Stream; Gazprom Deputy Chairman suggests Gazprom could use Trans-Adriatic Pipeline as outlet for Turkish Stream
• Ukraine: Increased Gazprom usage of OPAL led to decrease in daily gas transit via Ukraine in January 2017; Gazprom adds "take-or-pay" penalty for 2016 to its arbitration claim against Naftogaz
• Asia: Gazprom Marketing and Trading signs 10-year charter contract for River Ob LNG tanker as Japan"s LNG imports fall and the country receives its first imports from the US