Why Gazprom is emptying its storage facilities in Europe

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Russian gas giant Gazprom continues to actively empty its underground gas storage facilities from raw materials. Since the beginning of the 2020/2021 heating season, gas has already been taken twice as much as in the previous year, and it is almost equal to the record 2016/2017. European traders are also doing their utmost to free UGS facilities from "blue fuel" until the end of the season in order to start filling them in summer.

According to the GIE, more than 42 billion cubic meters of gas have been withdrawn from European UGS facilities since the beginning of this heating season. m. of gas. (a year earlier at this time - 24,2 billion cubic meters of gas). On January 25, 2021, the active (recoverable) gas volume at the level of 58,7 billion cubic meters was recorded in these UGS facilities. m. At the same time, by January 25, 2017, about 48 billion cubic meters were withdrawn. cubic meters of gas, and reserves dropped to 47 billion cubic meters. m. of gas.



Aleksey Grivach, Deputy Director of the National Energy Security Fund, believes that the 2019/2020 heating season was unique. Many expected that there would be a serious interruption in transit through the Ukrainian territory and filled the UGS to the maximum. At the same time, the winter was warm. As for this season, the winter turned out to be cold and a huge amount of LNG "migrated" to Asia, as prices there are much higher than in Europe. Therefore, there are objective reasons for the selection of raw materials from UGS facilities.

Before this season, Gazprom pumped an additional 9 billion cubic meters into European UGS facilities. meters of gas, a third of which he took in January 2021. Low reserves in UGS facilities should induce the Europeans to properly stock up on raw materials, but it is not a fact that Russian gas exports will grow.

According to our estimates, volumes will be at the level of last year, give or take

- added Grivach in an interview EADaily.

Note that in 2019 Gazprom exported 191 billion cubic meters to Europe, including Turkey. m. of gas. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, exports decreased and amounted to about 175 billion cubic meters. m. (33% of the market).

Gazprom's actions this season are quite explainable, although they differ from past years. The company does not want to lose income, because prices in Europe are currently at their peak. In addition, the rational use of capacities by the Russians is pushing the Europeans to the earliest possible commissioning of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
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16 comments
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  1. +1
    27 January 2021 18: 21
    empties its vaults in Europe

    Love the headlines on Kore!
  2. +3
    27 January 2021 18: 25
    All the gas was sent to Asia. It is there for 1000 baksikov. From the euro storage they began to sell at the peak of prices in winter. What is not clear here. It’s obvious that the guys can count money.
  3. 123
    +5
    27 January 2021 18: 29
    Gazprom sells gas there and not collects.
  4. +1
    27 January 2021 19: 14
    Everything is correct. And LNG from the US will soon be gone. And for whom were the terminals built? Under LNG from Yamal and Ust Luga. Agent Bidon leads Gazprom to victory!
    1. 0
      27 January 2021 19: 31
      More precisely, Gazprom and Novatek.
  5. -5
    27 January 2021 21: 02
    Before this season, Gazprom pumped an additional 9 billion cubic meters into European UGS facilities. meters of gas, a third of which he took in January 2021.

    - Should it be understood that the "European UGS facilities" are located in Western Europe ??? - If so; what

    Before this season, Gazprom pumped an additional 9 billion cubic meters into European UGS facilities. m. of gas.

    ..- this is still understandable ... - But that,

    "a third of which he took in January 2021"

    ... - this is completely incomprehensible ... - How did Gazprom pumped the gas that had already been pumped out of the European UGS facilities and how did it "take it back" ??? - In a gas pipe that ... - there is a "two-line movement" ... - there and back ??? - Or Gazprom has assembled a huge number of gas carriers; arranged for them expensive "trips" to Europe; so that these gas carriers roll back and forth and carry gas from Europe to Russia ... - So, or what ???
    - No, judging by the level of development of the leaders of Gazprom ... - Gazprom is not yet so "capable" ... - There is nothing surprising in such "unique" Gazprom "commercial operations" ... - But who will pay off the colossal losses from everything this ... - the consequences of such "commercial transactions" ???

    Gazprom's actions this season are quite understandable, although they differ from previous years. The company does not want to lose income, because prices in Europe are currently at their peak.

    - And how are they "explainable" ??? - The demand for gas is growing, but this gas is simply taken out from the buyer ... - and they spend money on gas export ... - And the gas price has already been approved in the supply agreement ... - And where is the "income"? ??

    As for this season, the winter turned out to be cold and a huge amount of LNG "migrated" to Asia, as prices there are much higher than in Europe. Therefore, there are objective reasons for the selection of raw materials from UGS facilities.

    - And what has to do with LNG and gas from UGS facilities ... these are two big differences ...
    - And what is it ... specifically Asia

    A huge amount of LNG "migrated"

    - and on what "migrated" ??? - Russia that ... - has already created an LNG delivery network on LNG carriers ??? - Is their fleet already built ???
    - Poor fellow tanker "Nikolay Evgenov", which was damaged ... - has not yet sailed to China ... - And the Cypriot "Christophe de Margerie" has not arrived either ... - the same and the second Greek tanker " Nikolay Zubov "...
    - Personally, I have already written more than once that NOVATEK ... is still that swindler ... - Gazprom is not suitable for him in this matter ...
    - And all of today's absurd actions of Gazprom ... are a clear "merit" of NOVATEK ...
    - Yes ... - and if we mention the SP-2; then ... then ... then it is NOVATEK that does not need this SP-2 at all ... - This is its competitor; very weak, but still a competitor ... - Well, now ... - no comment ...
    1. +1
      27 January 2021 22: 02
      What is not clear to you. When pumping in at a minimum price (this is summer), the gas was pumped in. I waited until the peak of the price (and this is winter) and began to drop in Europe.
    2. -1
      27 January 2021 22: 09
      Gazprom has LNG on Sakhalin. Yes, and from Yamal, tankers from Novatek slowly began to sail in winter. Two LNG tankers arrived safely in January this year. By the way. Winter pilotages began not this year, but last. True, under icebreaker escort of nuclear-powered ships. Profitable and so they ate fell.
    3. -2
      27 January 2021 22: 23
      Now a year soon, 16 LNG tankers are already operating in the Arctic. The company is operating Novatek. All ice class. And ARC7 is the maximum that is. Time to know. And the next batch of 15 LNG carriers is already an order from the Zvezda shipyard. This is the Yamal LNG project. -2.we are sitting in opera with their explosive gas.
    4. +2
      27 January 2021 22: 29
      Nikolay Evgenov got there. And you know, on time and without any penalties. The breakdown was in the work programs of the main engine, Ichego. Any novelty requires grinding. Well, Russia, as always, stands still. Flint!
  6. +4
    28 January 2021 05: 41
    You read the news text and feel that Gazprom has decided to mock the EU a little. So that they agree to finish building SP2 faster. Otherwise, the storage facilities are being emptied, but little gas from the Russian Federation goes through the existing pipe.
    1. -4
      28 January 2021 12: 51
      Quote: Kedrovich
      You read the news text and feel that Gazprom has decided to mock the EU a little.

      And besides, it becomes clear that gas for the Russian Federation is still a political thing, like North. stream 2 then.
      And Merkel says that this is the economy.
      Is she a stupid woman?
      1. +3
        28 January 2021 15: 17
        they said that gas was a political thing. They said, they said ... they said, they said. Well, here you are, a politician! As in a joke about a chicken: "How much is your rabbit?" - "What rabbit?!? This is a chicken!" and so three times. And then: "How much is your chicken?" - "What chicken?!? It's a rabbit!"
  7. -3
    28 January 2021 12: 47
    The article is somehow one-sided. Why is GAZ Russia? You can get tired of this stupid propaganda. There are other suppliers of this gas.
    Example: Qatar has decided to increase its gas production by more than 30% in the coming years. 5th in the ranking country.
    1. +3
      28 January 2021 15: 18
      Yes, we are somehow indifferent to the income from the sale of gas in other countries. Gazprom is our property.)
      1. -4
        28 January 2021 19: 35
        Quote: Cherry
        Yes, we are somehow indifferent to the income from the sale of gas in other countries. Gazprom is our property.)

        But revenues at Gazprom are also falling.
        Gazprom received a net loss of 592,15 billion rubles for the nine months of this year under RAS (Russian reporting standard) against 434,94 billion rubles of profit for the same period last year. TASS writes about this with reference to the company's materials.
        Be proud !!