EU to publish plan in May to stop Russian gas and oil imports
After twice postponing the plan, the European Commission announced on Monday that it will unveil a more comprehensive strategy for phasing out Russian gas and oil imports in January. In response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU has committed to stop using Russian fossil fuels before 2027. However, the Commission has not yet published its "roadmap" on how to achieve this. The plan was originally due last month. An agenda published Monday revealed that the Commission would now publish its roadmap on 6 May.
Energy assets affected due to sanctions and standoff between Russia and the West
On Tuesday, the United States and Russia reached separate agreements to stop attacks on energy and maritime targets. Washington also agreed to press for the lifting of some sanctions against Moscow. In the event that a peace agreement is reached between Russia and Ukraine, the potential for a relaxation of U.S. sanctions and EU sanctions has led to the question of what will happen to the disputed assets which were affected by international sanctions. This includes both Russian assets located in Europe as well as assets owned by foreign companies in Russia.
EU energy plan could save 45 billion Euros on fossil fuel import bill
According to an analysis by the EU executive, plans due to be released on Wednesday by the European Commission could save 45 billion euros (47.3 billion dollars) from the EU's import bill for fossil fuels this year. The Commission will propose a number of measures that aim to help European industries who are struggling to cope with a weak demand, low-cost imports and energy costs higher than in the U.S. or China. The draft EU energy measures that was previously reported on included proposals for speeding up permits for renewable projects…
Breakaway Moldovan Region claims it received gas supplies backed up by Russian loan
Separatist authorities announced on Friday that the pro-Russian Transdniestria region of Moldova, which is a breakaway region, has begun receiving gas under a Moscow loan. Transdniestrian leader Vadim Krsnoselsky stated in a Telegram statement that the Russian loan assistance as well as cooperation with Russia's Ministry of Energy made gas deliveries possible. The Russian gas flow to Transdniestria through Ukraine ceased at the beginning of January after Ukraine refused to renew a transit contract.
European energy industry urges EU to not cap gas prices
The European Union's gas and trading industries are urging it not to cap the gas price, while Brussels is looking for ways to protect businesses and consumers from rising energy prices. The European Commission has been preparing a set of measures that will be presented on 26 February to help improve the competitiveness of industries and lower energy prices. The cold weather and the depletion of gas storage tanks boosted this week's benchmark European gas price to a 2-year high of €58 per megawatt-hour (MWh).
European energy industry urges EU to not cap gas prices
The European Union's gas and trading industries are urging it not to cap the gas price, while Brussels is looking for ways to protect businesses and consumers from rising energy prices. The European Commission has been preparing a set of measures that will be presented on 26 February to help improve the competitiveness of industries and lower energy prices. The cold weather and the depletion of gas storage tanks boosted this week's benchmark European gas price to a 2-year high of €58 per megawatt-hour (MWh).
European energy industry urges EU to not cap gas prices
The European Union's gas and trading industries are urging it not to cap the gas price, while Brussels is looking for ways to protect businesses and consumers from rising energy prices. The European Commission has been preparing a set of measures that will be presented on 26 February to help improve the competitiveness of industries and lower energy prices. The cold weather and the depletion of gas storage tanks boosted this week's benchmark European gas price to a two year high of 58 euro per megawatt-hour (MWh).
Leader of Moldova’s separatist region visits Moscow to discuss gas crisis
Transdniestria, the news agency of Transdniestria, reported that on Tuesday the leader of Moldova’s Transdniestria region has traveled to Moscow to hold talks in order to resolve a crisis resulting from the suspension of Russian Gas deliveries. Transdniestria is experiencing widespread power outages since January 1, when Russia's Gazprom stopped gas exports. The company cited an unpaid Moldovan bill of $709 millions that Chisinau doesn't recognize as valid. Moscow has blamed the suspension of gas supply on Moldova and Ukraine.
Slovak deputy speaker of parliament arrives in Moscow. TASS reports
The Russian state news agency TASS reported that Andrej Danko, the Deputy Speaker of the Slovak Parliament, arrived in Moscow Sunday. Bratislava is seeking a solution after Ukraine decided to stop Russian gas deliveries to Europe. TASS, as well as the Slovak media agency TASR, reported that Danko's planned visit before the gas conflict will continue through Wednesday. Slovak Premier Robert Fico stated on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had promised that Russia's…
Sources say that OMV's Romanian subsidiary has agreed to supply gas to Germany
Three people with knowledge of the situation have confirmed that OMV's Romanian subsidiary has signed a contract to supply Uniper gas from its Black Sea Project starting in 2027. This comes as Europe looks for new ways to increase energy security following the breakup with Russia. The deal, which was not disclosed before, is for a five-year supply of 15 terawatts of natural gas to be delivered by the Neptun Deep Project. This comes after Russia stopped gas deliveries via…
Sources say that Austria's OMV Romanian unit has agreed to supply gas to Germany
Three people with knowledge of the situation have confirmed that Austria's OMV Romanian has signed a contract to supply Germany's Uniper gas from its Black Sea Project from 2027. This is as Europe looks for new ways to increase energy security following its breakup with Russia. The deal, which was not disclosed before, is for a five-year supply of 15 terawatts of natural gas to be delivered by the Neptun Deep Project. This comes after Russia stopped gas deliveries via…
Sources: Austria's OMV has agreed to supply Romanian Gas to Germany
Three people with knowledge of the deal said that Austria's OMV will supply Germany's Uniper gas from its Black Sea Project from 2027. This comes as Europe looks for new ways to increase energy security following the breakup with Russia. The deal, which was not disclosed before, is for a five-year supply of 15 terawatts of natural gas to be delivered by the Neptun Deep Project. This comes after Russia stopped gas deliveries via Ukraine last month and a general slowdown in energy purchases made by the European Union from Moscow because of its invasion of Ukraine.
Orban: Hungary is in talks with Ukraine about Russian gas deliveries via Hungary
Viktor Orban, the Prime Minister of Hungary, said that Hungary was in talks with Russia, Ukraine and other countries to keep open gas deliveries via Ukraine, even though it imports Russian gas via Turkstream. The pipeline via Ukraine is one of the main Russian gas routes into Europe. However, it will close at the end this year because Kyiv doesn't want to extend the five-year transit deal that brings gas to Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Orban said in a press briefing: "We're now trying to pull off the trick...
Germany's Wilhelmshaven Terminal offers May LNG Capacity
Deutsche Energy Terminal (DET) said on Thursday that Germany's Wilhelmshaven liquefied natural gas terminal intends to market capacity for ships to discharge LNG in May 2025, adding that there would be limited slots available in the first quarter there and at another location.DET has been commissioned by Berlin since the height of Europe's energy crisis in 2022 to market regasification of gas volumes arriving on LNG tankers, as well as related storage and gas deliveries…
Sources: Austria's 50-year relationship with Gazprom is ended by the gas seizure
Five sources said that the Austrian group's seizure and payment of Russian gas to cover an arbitration award was what triggered the end of more than 50 years gas flow from Russian state energy company Gazprom to OMV this month. OMV is one of the last remaining gas buyers in Europe, after Gazprom lost most of its European customers in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia was Europe’s largest natural gas supplier before the war. OMV announced on Nov.
Prices fluctuate in Europe due to colder weather forecasts despite constant Russia flows
Dutch and British wholesale gas prices fluctuated Monday morning due to colder weather forecasts, a decrease in Norwegian supplies and stable Russian gas flows through Ukraine. However, more LNG cargoes were heading towards Europe. LSEG data shows that the benchmark front-month contract traded at the Dutch TTF Hub at 45.90 Euro per megawatt hour at 1007 GMT, after fluctuating between losses and gains in the morning. After Austria's OMV informed Russia's Gazprom that it would stop its gas deliveries, the price of gas in Austria hit 47.15 Euros/MWh intraday on Friday.
Front-year contracts are boosted by rising gas and carbon prices
The European power contracts for the year ahead were released on Thursday. They reflect higher carbon permits as well as gas contracts. The German power contract for the year ahead was up 3.1% to 94.25 Euros ($99.09), after hitting a high of 94.50 Euros earlier. Meanwhile, the French baseload contract for 2025 rose 3%, reaching 77.25 EUR/MWh. The European CO2 allowances in December 2024 increased by 2.7%, to 68.08 Euros per metric ton. Energi Danmark's daily report stated that the German market has recovered due to new concerns regarding Russian gas deliveries.
Gas and Carbon Forward Contracts are on the Rise
The European power contracts for the year ahead rose on Friday as did gas and carbon contracts. LSEG data show that the German 2025 baseload price rose by 1.1% at 1041 GMT to 91.45 Euros ($98.99) for a megawatt-hour. Earlier, the price had been.05 euros short of the highest recorded in a month and a quarter on Thursday. The equivalent French position increased 0.2% to 75.35 Euro/MWh. The European CO2 allowances expiring in December 2024 rose by 0.1%, to 66.65 Euros per metric ton.
Gas prices in Europe are correct after a 3-week high
Dutch and British wholesale prices of gas fell on Thursday amid forecasts for more wind energy generation. This was a correction from the three-week high that they had reached earlier in the day due to supply concerns. LSEG data shows that the benchmark front-month contract for the Dutch TTF hub fell 0.72 euros to 36.86 Euro per megawatt hour at 0952 GMT. According to LSEG data, on Wednesday the contract reached its highest level since September 3 at 38.15 Euro/MWh. The front-month contract in the British market was 2.21 pence less at 88.70 p/therm.
After a 1-month low, the price of gas in Europe has seen a small increase.
The Dutch and British wholesale prices of gas traded slightly higher on Thursday morning, after having hit a one-month low the day before. This was due to full storages as well as a rising supply of liquefied gas (LNG), which offset fewer pipeline gas deliveries from Norway or Algeria. LSEG data shows that the benchmark front-month contract for the Dutch TTF hub rose by 0.60 euros to 36.25 Euro per megawatt hour or $11.78/mmBtu at 0838 GMT. The contract dropped to 35.65 Euros/MWh on Wednesday, its lowest level since August 5.
