Gas Prices Soar in Europe on Tight Russian Supply
European gas prices soared more than 30% on Tuesday as low supplies from Russia reignited concerns about an energy crunch as the region heads for colder weather.A key pipeline which normally delivers gas from Siberia to Europe continued to work in reverse on Tuesday, traders said, sending flows from Germany to Poland…
Slovak, Polish Firms Sign Deal to Build Gas Interconnector
Polish and Slovak gas transmission system operators GAZ-SYSTEM and Eustream signed an agreement to build a new 165 km (100 mile) interconnector between the two countries, Eustream said on Monday.The link will improve access to the Baltic gas import terminals as well as Norway via the planned Baltic Pipe.In the south…
Gazprom Inks Gas Transport Deal with Eustream
Russian gas giant Gazprom said on Tuesday it had signed a 5.3 billion euro ($5.6 billion) gas transportation framework deal with Slovakia's Eustream until 2050. "This agreement provides for a basis for future contracts on transportation and allows to participate in obtaining any capacity in the gas transportation system of Slovakia…
Czech Energy Group EPH Profit Drops Despite Higher Sales
Acquisitive Czech power group EPH, one of central Europe's biggest energy firms, saw its profit slip in the first half of the year despite increasing sales. EPH has been snapping up coal, gas and nuclear power assets in recent years, betting they will remain strong energy sources and pay off once electricity prices rise from lows.
Czech EPH Sees No Impact from More Gazprom Access to German Pipeline
Czech closely-held energy group EPH does not expect a negative impact from a European Commission decision to allow Gazprom to ship more of its gas from the Nord Stream pipeline into the Opal link in Germany, EPH said on Tuesday. EPH, via its EPIF subsidiary, co-owns and operates Slovak pipeline…
Eustream to Raise Gas Pipeline Capacity to Ukraine
Slovak pipeline operator Eustream will slightly lift its capacity at the Budince gas transit point to Ukraine in the fourth quarter, it said on Tuesday. The company said it would provide additional capacity of 12,000 Mwh a day until the end of the year, increasing potential flows to Ukraine from the west ahead of winter.
Eustream, Gaz-System to hold Pipeline Open Season
Slovak and Polish gas transit firms Eustream and Gaz-System will hold an open season procedure to allocate capacity in a planned pipeline connecting the two countries, Eustream said on Friday. It said binding bids are due by Sept 9. The planned 158-kilometre interconnector would have capacity…
Eustream, Gaz-System Prepare Open Season for Slovak-Polish Gas Link
Slovak gas pipeline operator Eustream and Polish group Gaz-System aim to launch an open season procedure for a planned link between the two countries in late July or the beginning of August, Eustream said on Thursday. The gas link is part of the European Union's push to diversify energy sources and routes…
Czech Energy Group EPH to Float Stake in Infrastructure Unit
Czech energy company EPH is planning to sell a minority stake in its newly-created EP Infrastructure (EPIF) business on the stock market by the end of June, the company said on Tuesday. EPH has grown via acquisitions in recent years into one of central Europe's largest power companies and…
Czech EPH to Group Infrastructure Assets
Czech energy investment group EPH will group its central European infrastructure assets under an arm called EPIF, and may sell a minority stake in the business through an initial public offering (IPO), EPH said on Thursday. The privately-held EPH, which has grown rapidly in the past several…
Bypassing Ukraine Will be Costly for Gazprom
Russia's plans to drop Ukraine as a route for pumping natural gas to Europe will still leave state-run Gazprom facing about $1 billion in annual transit fees to Slovakia and Bulgaria for years to come, analysts and industry sources say. Russia wants to circumnavigate Ukraine to pipe its gas to Europe because of pricing disagreements…
Czech, Slovak Gas Pipeline Operators to Auction Capacity
The Czech and Slovak gas pipeline operators plan to offer 10 percent of available transmission capacity between the two countries in monthly auctions, they said on Thursday. A pilot auction will be held next month for September capacity, as a trial, before a decision is made on whether to press ahead with the scheme.
Eustream: Launch of Gas Link to Hungary Under Threat
Slovak pipeline operator Eustream said on Thursday the commercial launch of a gas interconnector between Slovakia and Hungary is under threat because the Hungarian side has not handed over a section of the pipeline. Eustream said the section passed underneath a river on Slovak and Hungarian territory.
Testing Period Extended on Slovak-Hungarian Gas Link
The testing period for a new gas pipeline connecting Slovakia and Hungary has been extended until May 31, Slovak pipeline operator Eustream said on Wednesday. During the testing phase, the pipeline operators are offering 50,000 megawatt hours per day entry and exit capacities to Hungary on a first come-first serve basis, Eustream said in a statement.
Russian Gas to Slovakia via Ukraine Remains Robust
Russian natural gas flows to Slovakia via Ukraine on Tuesday stayed well above levels seen since September, data from Slovak pipeline operator Eustream showed. Nominations for Tuesday were at 99.9 million cubic metres (mcm), down from around 101 mcm over the past three days but more than double levels of around 48 mcm seen in recent months.
Slovak Pipeline Says Demand High for Capacity to Ship Gas to Ukraine
Slovak gas pipeline operator Eustream has sold additional capacity in a pipeline carrying supplies to Ukraine through the end of 2016, bringing total capacity to 14.6 billion cubic metres per year, it said on Thursday. Eustream, which began so-called reverse flows from the west to Ukraine in September…
Pipeline Plan to Bring Western Gas to Balkans Closer
Slovak pipeline operator Eustream expects to sign a memorandum of understanding in the next two weeks with counterparts in Romania and Bulgaria on a proposed gas pipeline aimed at reducing Balkan reliance on Russia, its chief said on Wednesday. The project, its backers say, would ensure countries…
Eustream Offers Increased Capacity for Gas Shipments to Ukraine
Slovak pipeline operator Eustream offered increased capacity for gas shipments to Ukraine on Wednesday via a link opened last year to help Ukraine compensate for cuts in supplies from Russia. The company said it was offering additional capacity of 8.5 million cubic metres per day, raising the maximum daily volumes to 40 million cubic metres.
Slovakia's Eustream Testing of Hungarian Gas Link Delayed
Technical problems have caused a delay of testing operations at a new gas pipeline connecting Slovakia and Hungary, the Slovak pipeline operator Eustream said on Friday. It said that problems on the Hungarian side may postpone opening the interconnector on Feb. 1, 2015, a date already shifted from a previously intended January start.
Flows of Slovak Gas to Ukraine to Rise
Ukraine will import 40 million cubic metres of gas per day from Slovakia from Dec. 15, up from the current 31 million cubic metres, a spokesman for Ukraine's gas transport monopoly Ukrtransgaz said on Wednesday. The rise in Slovak flows was due to an upgrade in its gas facilities, the spokesman said.
