EGF Gazprom Monitor, Issue 71, April 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: Conclusions European Commission receives feedback from stakeholder on Gazprom"s antitrust proposals
  • Gazprom in the Baltic region: Latvian gas market opened to competition
• Nord Stream: EU Commissioners write to Danish and Swedish governments to confirm stance on Nord Stream II: Nord Stream II project takes significant step forward with financing deal involving five European energy companies; Nord Stream 2 AG signs pipe-laying deal with Allseas; Lithuania joins Poland in opposition to EU-Gazprom agreement over OPAL pipeline
• Southern Corridor: Gazprom claims it is ready to begin construction of first offshore line of Turkish Stream pipeline "within days"
• Ukraine/Belarus: Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine requests seizure of Gazprom assets in Ukraine over unpaid fine; Expected arbitration ruling on Gazprom-Naftogaz dispute pushed back to May-June; Belarus pays off gas debts to Gazprom and signs protocol on gas prices in 2018-19
• Asia: Gazprom announces that 650km of the Power of Siberia pipeline has been built