EGF Gazprom Monitor, Issue 90, November 2018

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 Research Fellow on the Natural Gas Research Programme, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies

Key points:

• Gazprom on the European market:  Gazprom continues to expect record-breaking year for exports to Europe, despite fall in export growth rate; WTO delays its response to appeals by Russia and the EU — No new date proposed; Gazprom and OMV agree to increase gas supplies as Austria imports record amount of Russian gas; Gazprom curtails sales via Electronic Sales Platform for delivery in Q4 2018, begins sales for delivery in Q1 2019
• Nord Stream: Over 200 km of Nord Stream 2 pipeline has been laid in the Baltic Sea
• Southern Corridor:  Turkish Stream offshore section completed
• Ukraine:  Naftogaz retains more of Gazprom"s overpayment for gas transit to offset arbitration award; Swiss court blocks payments from Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 project companies to Gazprom; Transit of Russian gas via Ukraine in Jan-Oct down 7.3% year-on-year as Naftogaz stockpiles gas for winter
• Other:  First ship-to-ship transfer of cargo from Novatek-led Yamal LNG, as production launches at third train; Novatek courts investors for Arctic LNG 2