Russia's proposed gas pipeline to Iran
The Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Friday plans to build a pipeline to Iran that will eventually transport up to 55 billion cubic meters (bcms) of gas per year into the West Asian nation. Here are some background details about the cooperation between Iran, Russia and the gas sector. Iran is the second largest gas producer in the world after Russia. However, U.S. sanctions are preventing access to technology as well as slowing down gas exports.
What we know about Trump’s executive orders following his swearing-in
Donald Trump will issue a series of executive orders and directions after his inauguration as U.S. President on Monday, to stamp his mark on his new administration in matters ranging between energy and immigration. Two sources familiarized with the plan said that more than 100 orders and directives would be issued on Day One, in a move known as "shock-and-awe". Trump's transition advisers are preparing drafts from which he can choose. It is still unclear which drafts will be released Monday and which ones in the following days.
Argentina negotiates gas imports with Bolivia and Chile after heatwave increases demand
Bolivia and Chile have begun talks to resume gas exports to Argentina, amid a spike in demand sparked by a heatwave this summer. This highlights the challenges facing the government of Buenos Aires in its quest to become self-sufficient in energy. Armin Dorgathen Taia, the head of Bolivia's state energy company YPFB told me by phone on Friday that "we are in a negotiations with Argentina to create a contract spot". These talks were previously unknown.
Executive: Bolivia and Argentina in talks to restart gas supply due to spike in demand
Bolivia's state energy company YPFB has begun talks with Argentina to resume gas exports, amid a spike in demand sparked by a heatwave this summer. This highlights the challenges facing the government of Buenos Aires in its quest to become self-sufficient in energy. Armin Dorgathen Tapiea, the YPFB's chief, told a reporter by phone on Friday that "we are in a discussion with Argentina about creating a spot contract." These talks were previously unknown.
The separatist enclave of Moldova hopes that Russia will soon resume gas supplies
Vadim Krsnoselsky, the leader of Transdniestria, a breakaway region in Moldova, said that it expects to be able to get Russian gas soon, to meet its own needs. This comes after two weeks of crippling power outages. Prime Minister of Moldova's pro European central government, said that Russia is determined to bring a Moscow friendly government into power in the country. He said that Moscow was likely to provide only a small amount of gas to guarantee electricity to both the rebel-held and government-held regions.
The separatist enclave of Moldova hopes that Russia will soon resume gas supplies
Vadim Krsnoselsky, the leader of Transdniestria, a breakaway region in Moldova, said that it expects to be able to get Russian gas soon, to meet its own needs. This comes after two weeks of crippling power outages. Since January 1, when Russia's Gazprom stopped gas exports into the region, Chisinau has refused to recognize the debt Moldova owes Gazprom of $709,000,000 as valid. Moscow has blamed the suspension of gas supply on pro-Western Moldova, and Ukraine.
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.
Hungary will increase its gas exports to Slovakia starting April
The transmission system operator FGSZ announced on Tuesday that Hungary would increase its gas export to Slovakia from 2.63 billion cubic metres per year to 3.5 bcm by April. Hungary's decision to increase its export capacity to the north follows Ukraine refusing to renew a transit agreement with Russia, as it seeks a reduction in revenue that goes to Moscow for funding the war in Ukraine. The expiration of this deal has stopped a major route for Russian Gas to be shipped into Slovakia and Western Europe.
Sandu, the leader of Moldova's separatist area, has said that he travelled to Moscow in response to the gas crisis.
Transdniestria's leader has been to Moscow after the Russian gas supply via Ukraine was suspended, said the President of Moldova on Tuesday. 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. Both countries refused to…
What we know about Trump’s executive orders following his swearing-in
Donald Trump will issue a series of executive orders and directions after his inauguration as U.S. President on Monday to stamp his presidency in everything from immigration to the energy sector. Two sources with knowledge of the plan said that Trump was preparing an avalanche of executive orders and directions, which could number more than 100 on day one. This is part and parcel of what Trump calls his "shock-and-awe" strategy. Transition advisers are preparing a list of orders that Trump can choose from.
The Serbian President says that Azerbaijani gas to Serbia has been suspended.
The gas flow from Azerbaijan into Serbia has been stopped and it's unclear when it will resume. This was the statement of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, according to news agency Tanjug. Vucic stated that it was unclear when gas flow would resume. Vucic added that the gas flow would be resumed in about a month. Serbia, which consumes more than 3 billion cubic meters of gas annually, signed an agreement with Azerbaijan in 2023 to buy 400 million cubic meters of natural gas each year starting 2024. The remainder of the gas is imported from Russia.
Separatists pro-Russians in Moldova extend state of emergencies amid gas cuts
Transdniestria, a separatist region in Moldova backed by Moscow and afflicted with an energy shortage after losing its access to Russian gas that has sustained its economy for decades, extended the state of emergency for another month on Friday. Gazprom, a Russian company, suspended its gas exports to Transdniestria at the beginning of January. The reason given was unpaid Moldovan bills totaling $709 million. Moldova denies that debt, and claims Moscow is provoking a crisis in order to undermine the pro-Western government.
Equinor extends Norway LNG Outage by 10 Days
Equinor announced in a Wednesday regulatory filing that it has extended the outage of its Hammerfest LNG facility in Arctic Northern Norway by 10 more days, to January 19, as they continue to repair a faulty compressor. The Hammerfest plant (also known as Melkoeya LNG) has the ability to deliver approximately 6.5 billion cubic meters of gas each year. This is enough to provide about 6.5 millions European homes and accounts for about 5% of Norwegian gas exports. On Jan.
Equinor's Hammerfest liquefied natural gas plant closed for a week due to compressor failure
Equinor announced on Thursday that its Hammerfest LNG facility in Arctic Northern Norway suffered an unexpected outage because of a compressor failure. The company said the plant's output was halted for a week. The Hammerfest plant (also known as Melkoeya LNG) has the ability to deliver approximately 6.5 billion cubic meters of gas each year. This is enough to provide about 6.5 millions European homes and accounts for about 5% of Norwegian gas exports.
Russia stops gas exports via Ukraine to Europe
The transit agreement has expired, according to Gazprom. Gas exports from Russia via Ukraine have been stopped as of 08:00 Moscow Time (0500 GMT). The closure of Russia's longest gas route to Europe brings an end to a decade-long fraught relationship sparked by Russia s 2014 seizure Crimea. The TurkStream pipeline, which runs along the Black Sea bed, is still used by Russia to export gas. After the start of the conflict in Ukraine, in 2022, the European…
Qatar will stop EU gas exports if fined for due diligence, reports FT
In an interview with the Financial Times published on Sunday, Energy Minister Saad Al-Kaabi said that Qatar would stop shipping gas into the EU if the member states enforced a new law aimed at cracking down against forced labour and environmental damages. Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence, approved in this year, is a directive that requires large companies operating within the European Union, to verify whether their supply chain uses forced labour, or causes environmental damage, and take action, if necessary.
Germany waives gas storage fees outside of the country starting Jan. 1, 2025
The German lower house of Parliament passed on Friday a change in energy law that will waive the domestic market storage fee at border points and virtual trading centers, effective Jan. 1, 2025. This will free foreign consumers from a costly element of price. Parliament approved the law change based on its incompatibility with European energy solidarité and to help south-western neighbors diversify their gas supply away from Russian gas. The levy that Trading Hub Europe (THE) charges domestic gas consumers will increase by 20%…
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…
Putin is clear: there will be no Ukraine Gas Transit Deal
Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, said that it is now clear that no new gas transit agreement will be signed with Kyiv for Russian gas to be sent through Ukraine to Europe. However, Russia will survive. As the EU attempts to reduce its dependency on Moscow, Russia has lost nearly all its European clients. Before the Ukraine War, Russia was Europe's largest single natural gas supplier. The Nord Stream gas pipeline, which was destroyed in 2022, cut off a major artery of Russian gas exports.
Prices of EUROPE GAS are bound by range as stable supply caps gains
The Dutch and British wholesale gasoline prices were mostly range bound on Thursday morning, despite the colder weather. The benchmark contract for the Dutch TTF hub rose by 0.18 euros to 41.45 euro per megawatt-hour (MWh) at 0920 GMT. Meanwhile, the contract for February was up by 0.13 euro and now stands at 41.38 euro/MWh. The day-ahead contract in Britain was 0.80 pence more expensive at 100.00 pence a therm. The temperature in North-West Europe is forecast to be around 3 degrees Celsius below average on the day ahead…
