Centrica, Tokyo Gas Break Mold in Mozambique LNG Deal
Britain's Centrica and Japan's Tokyo Gas aim to buy liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Anadarko Petroleum's $20 billion project in Mozambique, the first joint procurement deal designed to defuse risks facing the buyers in their respective markets.The deal also brings Anadarko one step closer to constructing its East African LNG project just as it corrals $14 billion to $15 billion from banks and export credit agencies for the 17,000-acre liquefaction complex in Mozambique's remote north.Lenders require Anadarko to fix at least 8.1 million tonnes (mt) of the project's 12.88 mt total ann
Transneft Says Belarus Q2 Oil Supply Schedule Signed
Russian oil pipeline monopoly Transneft said on Thursday that a schedule for additional oil supplies to Belarus for the second quarter had been signed. According to the schedule, Russia will supply 6 million tonnes of oil to Belarus in the second quarter and 7 million tonnes in each of third and fourth quarters. The schedule was signed off after Belarus agreed to pay its debt for natural gas purchases in full. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin, editing by David Evans)
BP Sees Potential for Gas Purchases from Rosneft
Global oil major BP may receive gas supplies of between 7 billion and 20 billion cubic metres per year under an agreement last year with Russia's largest producer Rosneft, a BP official told Reuters on Wednesday. Vladimir Drebentsov, chief economist for BP in Russia and the former Soviet Union, said these were hypothetical supplies because Kremlin-controlled gas giant Gazprom currently holds exclusive rights for pipeline gas exports for Russia. "This is only an intention, there are no concrete plans," he said on the sidelines of European Gas conference in Vienna.
Azerbaijan Sent Proposals to Gazprom on Gas Purchases
Azerbaijan said on Monday it had outlined proposals on buying Russian gas to Kremlin-controlled gas giant Gazprom in an effort to unblock a stalled supply deal. Russia and Azerbaijan agreed last year for Russia to supply up to 2 billion cubic metres of gas to Azerbaijan annually, but the volumes have yet to start flowing. Industry sources have said pricing issues are behind the holdup. "We are still interested in Russian gas purchases. We have presented our proposals to Gazprom," said Rovnag Abdullayev, the head of Azeri state energy firm SOCAR.
Norway will be Lithuania's 2016 Top Gas Supplier
Lithuania will import more gas from Norway than from former sole supplier Russia in 2016 after developing infrastructure to support liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, the country's energy minister said on Monday. Russia's Gazprom had enjoyed a supply monopoly until the end of 2014, when Lithuania opened a floating LNG import terminal to reduce energy dependence on its former Soviet master. That allowed it to import gas from Norwegian tankers, as well as via pipeline from Russia.
Gazprom: Ukraine Owes $2.6 bln for 2015 Q3 Gas
Gazprom says Ukraine has to pay for 10.485 bcm; Kiev has refused to buy Russian gas. Russia's Gazprom said on Tuesday that Ukraine owes it $2.549 billion for gas in the third quarter of last year which should be paid off in the next 10 days, adding a new element to Moscow and Kiev's politically charged dispute over gas supplies. The new claim includes monies said to be owed under a take-or-pay clause in the supply deal and Gazprom said on Tuesday the gas volumes in question for the quarter amounted to 10.485 billion cubic metres.
Ukraine Might Buy Russian Gas below $200
Ukraine would consider buying Russian gas in the first quarter of 2016 if the price was reduced from current $227 per 1,000 cubic metres to below $200, Ukrainian energy minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn said on Monday. Ukraine, which is in a long-running gas pricing dispute with Russia over a 2009 deal, said last month it would not need Russian gas this winter as it had enough gas in reserves. "Russians understand that to be competitive they need to reduce the price to less than $200 (per 1…
EU Lacks Clear Gas Strategy, Says Supplier Norway
Norway, the European Union's second largest gas supplier after Russia, has told the bloc it lacked a clear strategy on gas and was therefore cooling willingness to invest in new fields and pipelines, documents published on Tuesday showed. Norway meets about 20 percent of the EU's gas needs, and is the main supplier to its members in Western Europe, transporting gas from its offshore fields via subsea pipelines and by tankers from Europe's only liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in the Arctic Circle. "...in Europe investment signals are unclear.
Naftogaz Sends Prepayment to Russia for Gas
Ukrainian state-run energy firm Naftogaz has transferred a prepayment to Russia for gas supplies and plans to buy 2 billion cubic metres (bcm) in October, a spokeswoman for the company said on Friday. "We have sent the prepayment ... We want to buy 2 billion cubic metres in October," a Naftogaz spokeswoman said by telephone, declining to say how much Ukraine had paid. Russia's top natural gas producer Gazprom said earlier on Friday that it had reached an agreement with Kiev on the prepayment of gas purchases and will resume supplies to Ukraine on Oct. 12, once the payments are made.
Russia, Ukraine, European Commission to Hold Gas Supply Talks
Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission will hold gas supply talks on Friday, an EU source said, confirming earlier comment from the Russian energy ministry. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source confirmed the talks aimed at ensuring Ukraine receives Russian gas over the winter months. The source said the outlines of a deal were already in place, although there has been discussion over how the gas purchases would be financed. (Reporting by Barbara Lewis)
Russia, European Commission Make Headway on Ukraine Gas Supplies
Russia and the European Commission have made progress towards ensuring stable gas supplies to Ukraine and via that country to the European Union this winter, the EU executive said on Friday. Russia accounts for about a third of Europe's gas needs, with Ukraine a key transit route. Moscow and Kiev have had a number of gas pricing rows in the past which have led to a disruption in supplies to the EU. The European Commission said it held "constructive" talks on the issue with Russia's Energy Minister Alexander Novak and Gazprom Chief Executive Alexei Miller on Friday.
Russia, EU, Ukraine Agreed on Winter Gas Deal
Russia, Ukraine and the European Commision reached a deal on the winter gas deliveries to the European Union via Ukraine, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters on Friday. Alexei Miller, CEO with the Russian state gas firm Gazprom , added that the EU may provide Kiev with $500 million for gas purchases for Ukraine. (Reporting by Shadia Nasralla)
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).
Ukraine's Stored Natural Gas at 13 bcm
Ukraine has collected 13.06 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas in underground storage as of August 3, still short of the 18-19 bcm it seeks to store by mid-October, gas transport monopoly Ukrtransgaz said on Monday. It said in a statement that it had stored 1.0 bcm of gas in July. Energy Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn said last week the country planned to increase gas imports from Europe in August to 40 million cubic metres (mcm) per day from 24 mcm in July in order to achieve the storage targets for next winter.
Ukraine Boosts Gas Imports from Slovakia
Ukraine increased its purchase of natural gas imports from Slovakia by 41 percent on Tuesday, boosting its storage supplies, transport monopoly Ukrtransgaz said. Cash-strapped Ukraine is now buying most of its natural gas from Slovakia after halting imports from Russia three weeks ago due to a pricing dispute. It was unclear whether the increase on Tuesday was due to price factors or other reasons. A spokesman for Ukrtransgaz said the company would import 24 million cubic metres (mcm) of Slovakian gas on Tuesday, up from 17 mcm in previous days.
Gazprom, LUKOIL Ink Gas Supply Deal
At the meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Management Committee and Vagit Alekperov, President of LUKOIL held today issues relating to the General Agreement on Strategic Partnership were addressed placing emphasis on Gazprom’s gas purchases from LUKOIL in the long run. At the end of the meeting the parties inked an addendum to the contract for gas supply from LUKOIL fields in the Bolshekhetskaya Depression, stipulating gas amounts for 2017 to 2024. Besides,…
Gazprom-European Commission for Reliable Gas Supply
The Gazprom headquarters hosted today a working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Company’s Management Committee and Maros Sefcovic, European Commission Vice President for Energy Union. The parties paid special attention to the execution of the Brussels Agreements on Russian natural gas supply to Ukraine until April 1, 2015. It was pointed out that Naftogaz of Ukraine had partially settled its debt to Gazprom, which enabled the Ukrainian company to resume Russian natural gas purchases.
Ukraine Wins Loans for Gas Link Repairs
Trade financing could pay for gas imports; any loans have to be coupled with reform pledges. Kiev secured 300 million euros ($374 million) in development loans to repair the leaking pipeline that is the main gas route from Russia to the EU, under a deal on Monday that the lenders said was a step towards making Ukraine a gas-trading hub. European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) officials, in Brussels to hand over to Ukraine 150 million euros on top of 150 million already promised by the European Investment Bank…
Slim Chance of EU Cutting Reliance on Russian Gas
Europe is unlikely to be able to reduce its reliance on Russian natural gas for at least the next decade and potentially much longer, Fitch Ratings says. At best the European Union may be able to avoid significantly increasing its gas purchases from Russia. Any attempt to improve energy security by reducing European reliance on Russia would require either a significant reduction in overall gas demand or a big increase in alternative sources of supply, but neither of these appears likely.
Russia: European Demand for O&G May Flag
A Russian deputy economy minister said on Tuesday that he did not rule out weaker European demand for Russian oil and gas due to tension over Ukraine. Andrei Klepach also told reporters that Ukraine is likely to reduce Russian gas purchases this year to 20 billion cubic metres, from 25.8 billion in 2013, because of difficulties paying for deliveries. "This is not (a result of) sanctions, but one may anticipate a certain decrease in demand for our hydrocarbons both from Ukraine and from European countries," he said.
