Against the background of the transformation of the Ukrainian gas transportation system into scrap metal, the EU closes the Gazprom case
The Third Gas War, as the confrontation between Russia and Ukraine over the conditions for the transit of Russian natural gas to the European market is called, will end sooner or later. Already now you can try to predict who and what will gain as a result, and who can stay with a nose.
Obviously, after launching the Nord Stream-2 and Turkish Stream pipelines alternative to the Ukrainian gas transportation system, Nezalezhnaya will remain in a noticeable loss. The transit of "blue fuel" through its territory will be preserved in the interests of the neighboring European states, but it will significantly decrease. For comparison, in the past 2017, Ukraine pumped 93,5 billion cubic meters of Russian gas. In the near future, after the launch of the Severny and Turetsky flows, the volume of gas pumped through the Ukrainian gas transportation system will drop to only 10-15 billion cubic meters. At the same time, the use of the Independent Pipe will be carried out on new conditions, and they will be different from those that the Stockholm arbitration prescribed in the current agreement. The reverse of gas from Poland and Slovakia for Ukraine now costs 4 times more than it costed Russian direct deliveries before the conflict with Gazprom.
Europe is also actively preparing to redistribute its domestic gas market. Despite anti-Russian sanctions and political pressure adequately assessing the "reliability" of Ukraine as a transit country, Germany has given permission to build an additional Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline. Turkey with a squeak gave the green light to its pipeline line from Gazprom. Infrastructure and terminals are being built throughout the European Union to receive imported liquefied natural gas, primarily from American "allies" who, by all sorts of tricks, were able to impose their expensive goods on Europeans.
The European Commission has "matured" to finally stop the antitrust investigation, which has been going on for 6 years, against the Russian gas monopolist. Due to the current situation, Gazprom managed to get off with small concessions, but do without fines from the European gas market regulator. Recall that in 2012, the Russian company was accused of raising prices for “blue fuel” for the Baltic states, Poland and Bulgaria, contract binding and obstructing the free movement of gas flows. Then, at the offices of Gazprom and its partners in Europe, a series of searches took place.
In 2017, the Russian monopolist went towards Eastern Europe by providing them with gas prices under long-term agreements, as in Western Europe. Gazprom also actually allowed a “virtual reverse”: for example, from Poland and Slovakia it became possible to “virtually deliver” Russian gas to the Baltic countries. True, such a "virt" is not free, for each thousand cubic meters of its own Gazprom tariff is provided. At a separate request from Lithuania, Gazprom’s supply obligations now apply to short contracts.
Separately, it is worth noting that the European Commission rejected Poland’s demand to fine a Russian company.
Obviously, after launching the Nord Stream-2 and Turkish Stream pipelines alternative to the Ukrainian gas transportation system, Nezalezhnaya will remain in a noticeable loss. The transit of "blue fuel" through its territory will be preserved in the interests of the neighboring European states, but it will significantly decrease. For comparison, in the past 2017, Ukraine pumped 93,5 billion cubic meters of Russian gas. In the near future, after the launch of the Severny and Turetsky flows, the volume of gas pumped through the Ukrainian gas transportation system will drop to only 10-15 billion cubic meters. At the same time, the use of the Independent Pipe will be carried out on new conditions, and they will be different from those that the Stockholm arbitration prescribed in the current agreement. The reverse of gas from Poland and Slovakia for Ukraine now costs 4 times more than it costed Russian direct deliveries before the conflict with Gazprom.
Europe is also actively preparing to redistribute its domestic gas market. Despite anti-Russian sanctions and political pressure adequately assessing the "reliability" of Ukraine as a transit country, Germany has given permission to build an additional Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline. Turkey with a squeak gave the green light to its pipeline line from Gazprom. Infrastructure and terminals are being built throughout the European Union to receive imported liquefied natural gas, primarily from American "allies" who, by all sorts of tricks, were able to impose their expensive goods on Europeans.
The European Commission has "matured" to finally stop the antitrust investigation, which has been going on for 6 years, against the Russian gas monopolist. Due to the current situation, Gazprom managed to get off with small concessions, but do without fines from the European gas market regulator. Recall that in 2012, the Russian company was accused of raising prices for “blue fuel” for the Baltic states, Poland and Bulgaria, contract binding and obstructing the free movement of gas flows. Then, at the offices of Gazprom and its partners in Europe, a series of searches took place.
In 2017, the Russian monopolist went towards Eastern Europe by providing them with gas prices under long-term agreements, as in Western Europe. Gazprom also actually allowed a “virtual reverse”: for example, from Poland and Slovakia it became possible to “virtually deliver” Russian gas to the Baltic countries. True, such a "virt" is not free, for each thousand cubic meters of its own Gazprom tariff is provided. At a separate request from Lithuania, Gazprom’s supply obligations now apply to short contracts.
Separately, it is worth noting that the European Commission rejected Poland’s demand to fine a Russian company.
Information