Ukraine to Stop Buying Russian Gas
Ukraine says to stop buying Russian gas; says cheaper prices offered from Europe. A clash over natural gas pricing between Russia and Ukraine escalated on Wednesday with Russian exporter Gazprom announcing it would halt deliveries and Kiev saying it could find cheaper supply from Europe. Moscow and Kiev have clashed over gas pricing repeatedly in recent years and Russia's annexation of Crimea has worsened their relations. "The government has decided to order (state energy firm) Naftogaz to stop buying Russian gas.
Ukraine Backs Naftogaz Reforms to Unlock EBRD Loan
The Ukrainian government has backed plans to reform the management of state energy major Naftogaz, which will allow the company to receive a much-needed $300 million loan to buy gas this winter, its chief executive said on Friday. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which approved the loan in September, has urged Ukraine to give Naftogaz more independence, including a board of independent directors. It regards such changes as crucial to the country's efforts to modernise its loss-making energy sector.
Ukraine seeks $200 mln from IFC for Gas
Ukraine expects to receive $200 million from the International Finance Corporation to help fund natural gas purchases ahead of winter, central bank chief Valeria Hontareva said on Wednesday. "We are waiting for gas purchases for this winter, but the purchases will be funded by loans (taken by state energy firm) Naftogaz from international organisations," the bank's press service quoted Hontareva as saying. "(Naftogaz) is receiving a credit line of $300 million from the EBRD (The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development). U.S., IFC will allocate another $200 million," she said.
Ukraine's Winter Gas Stockpiling Lags
Ukraine's efforts to store natural gas for winter are running 1 billion cubic metres behind their pace last year, Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said on Wednesday. Ukraine has 14.1 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas in underground storage, he said. The country aims to store 18-19 bcm of gas before the winter heating season begins in mid-October. "On this day last year, we had 1 billion more ... We're in talks with our Western partners to get short-term funding to pump gas," Yatseniuk said at a government meeting.
Ukraine Seeks More Than $16b from Gazprom
Ukraine is seeking more than $16 billion from Russia's Gazprom in its appeal to an arbitration court in Stockholm over a long-running gas pricing dispute between Kiev and Moscow, Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said on Friday. Ukraine's state gas business Naftogaz and Russia's Gazprom are bound by a 10-year gas agreement signed in 2009. Kiev is challenging the price of Russian gas, and billions of dollars in debts which Russia says have accrued, and appealing to international arbitrators for a definitive ruling.
Naftogaz Wants to Boost Stored Gas for Winter -CEO
Ukraine's Naftogaz wants to build up its stored gas to 19 billion cubic metres (bcm) by the start of the 2015-16 heating season in the autumn, Chief Executive Andriy Kobolev said in a briefing on Wednesday. Earlier, Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said he hoped talks on natural gas supplies would take place with European partners and Russia on March 20. At the start of the heating season last October, the level of gas in storage stood at 16.75 bcm. (Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; Writing by Alessandra Prentice. Editing by Jane Merriman)
Austria Hopes EU Objections to South Stream Resolved in Next Month
Austria is hoping differences with the European Commission over the South Stream pipeline project can be resolved in the next month or so, allowing the plan to move ahead, Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz said on Friday. Plans to build the $40 billion pipeline carrying enough Russian gas to meet almost 15 pecent of European demand while bypassing Ukraine have divided EU member states and run into opposition from the Commission. The European Union had effectively put the pipeline project on ice after Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean peninsular…
Gazprom: Gas Resumes after Ukraine Pays
Russia, Ukraine reach deal on supplies in Brussels; dispute has threatened winter supplies to Europe. Russia may restart gas supply to Ukraine as soon as next week if Kiev pays $2.2 billion worth of debt and pre-payments, gas export monopoly Gazprom said on Friday, under a deal that is also vital to ensure deliveries to Europe. Moscow, Kiev and the European Union clinched an agreement on Thursday to resume supplies of Russian gas to Ukraine over the winter and secure transit of gas via Ukraine to Europe, despite tensions over a pro-Russian separatist rebellion in east Ukraine.
Ukraine to Guarantee EU Gas Transit
Yatseniuk, speaking to Ukrainian energy officials, criticised Russia's South Stream project to transport Russian gas through the Black sea to Europe and added: "Ukraine will guarantee transit. "It (Ukraine) will not give Russia the means of blackmailing Ukraine and Europe with different (gas) flows," he said. Ukraine, Russia and the European Union signed a deal on Thursday that will see Moscow resume vital supplies of gas to its ex-Soviet neighbour over the winter in return for payments funded in part by Kiev's Western creditors.
Ukraine: Gas Debts Paid after Deal Signed
Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said on Thursday that Ukraine's position at three-way talks in Brussels was that the price of Russian natural gas should be $378 per 1,000 cubic metres by the end of 2014 and fall to $365 in the first quarter of 2015. Yatseniuk told a government meeting that Kiev was ready to pay off debts for previously supplied gas immediately after any deal was signed. A total of $1.45 billion would be paid immediately and a further $1.65 billion would be paid by the end of the year, he said.
Russia: Ukraine Has One Week to Ante Up
Ukraine should be able to find ways of paying for Russian gas supplies within a week, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Wednesday, suggesting a standoff would end once Moscow received financial guarantees from Kiev. The latest round of gas talks between Moscow and Kiev ended late on Tuesday in Brussels with no agreement in a dispute that prompted Russia to cut off gas supplies to its neighbour in mid-June, potentially hurting flows west to the European Union. But while Novak said he was optimistic for new talks on Oct.
Ukraine Buying 1 mln Tonnes South African Coal
Ukraine will buy one million tonnes of coal from South Africa because the military conflict in its Donbass region has disrupted domestic coal production, Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said on Wednesday. Pro-Russian separatists are battling Kiev's forces in eastern Ukraine, which is home to much of the country's heavy industry and coal mines and accounts for about 18 percent of the economy's output. "They (the rebels) bombed our main coal mines ... and so the government has already signed an agreement on the supply of one million tonnes of coal from South Africa…
Russia Denies Plans to Block Gas Transit to Europe
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak dismissed Ukraine's claims that Moscow plans to block gas transit to Europe, saying on Wednesday that the assertions are groundless. His comments were published after Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said earlier on Wednesday Kiev knew of Russian plans to halt gas flows this winter to Europe. Novak said in a statement that Russia will put forth "maximum efforts" to fulfil gas contract obligations to European importers regardless of political issues.
Ukraine: Russia Planning to Block EU Gas
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said on Wednesday that Kiev knew of plans by Russia to halt gas flows this winter to Europe. "The situation in (Ukraine's) energy sector is difficult. We know of Russia's plans to block (gas) transit even to European Union countries this winter," he told a government meeting. Last year, half of Russian gas exports to the EU were shipped via Ukraine. Russian gas exporter Gazprom and the Energy Ministry were not immediately available for comments. Reporting by Natalia Zinets
Ukrainian Parliament Backs Pipeline Access to EU, U.S. Firms
Ukraine's parliament approved a law on Thursday to allow gas transit facilities to be leased on a joint venture basis with participation from firms in the European Union or United States. Ukraine will hold 51 percent and foreign partners will be offered 49 percent in the venture, which would manage both transit pipelines and underground gas storage facilities. The law was backed by 228 deputies, only two votes more than the minimum necessary for the adoption of the bill. Suffering a third cut-off of natural gas supplies from Russia in under nine years…
Ukraine Suggests Revision of Gazprom-EU Gas Deals
Ukraine said on Monday European companies would have to agree major contract revisions when purchasing Russian gas if the country's parliament imposed sanctions on Russian gas export giant Gazprom. "The main idea is - transit could continue with no problems if this gas is bought at our eastern border by let's say European companies," a Naftogaz spokeswoman told Reuters. Earlier on Monday, Naftogaz said it would continue smooth exports of gas to Europe via its territory even if Ukraine imposed its own sanctions on Russia.
Ukraine: Smooth Transit for Russian Gas
Ukraine state gas grid Naftogaz said it would continue uninterrupted pumping of Russian gas exports to Europe through its territory even if Ukraine imposes its own sanctions on Russia. "Naftogaz affirms its readiness to continue smooth transit of natural gas to European consumers," Chief Executive Andriy Kobolev said in a statement on Monday. Ukraine Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said last week that parliament would debate sanctions against Russia on Tuesday, which could include bans on Russian gas and sanctions against Russian banks.
Euro Coal October Prices Edge Lower on Weak Demand
European physical coal prices for October delivery fell on Friday as healthy supply and expectations of weak demand from utilities kept a lid on prices despite fears over Russian energy exports to Europe. Cargoes for delivery in October to Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Antwerp (ARA) traded at $78.20 a tonne on the globalCOAL trading platform by 1450 GMT, down 15 cents from Thursday's settlement. The contract, which was the only ARA coal contract to trade by Friday afternoon, hit a high of $78.45 per tonne in the day.
Curve Jumps on Ukraine Gas Transit Concerns
European power forwards rose on Friday, tracking a rise in gas prices after Ukraine's prime minister said proposed Ukrainian sanctions against Russia could have an impact on gas transits to Europe. German baseload power for the year ahead, calendar year 2015 , hit the 36 euro ($48.2) per MWh level for the first time since July 29 in early afternoon trade, and was last trading at 35.90 euros/MWh, up 20 cents. The less liquid French Cal 15 contract was up 10 cents at 43.05 euros per MWh.
Czechs Could Get Russia Gas, Oil Even if Ukraine Transit Halted
The Czech Republic would be able to import Russian natural gas via alternative routes if transport through Ukraine is halted and it could also supply neighbouring Slovakia, Industry Minister Jan Mladek said on Friday. He said the country could find other routes for shipments of Russian oil, which Czech refineries use, including by sea if its transit through Ukraine is stopped, although it would be more difficult than securing gas shipments. Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk, fielding…
