Russia launches new missiles at Ukraine and targets its gas infrastructure
Russia has launched another barrage of drones and missiles against Ukraine, this time targeting the gas infrastructure in western regions. This is the latest attack on Ukraine's crippled power system just as winter approaches. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the president of Ukraine, said that Russian forces used over 70 drones and 40 missiles in the morning's attack. He said that Ukrainian air defences had shot down 30 missiles or more. "Another massive Russian assault. "It's winter and the Russians are still targeting our energy infrastructure," Zelenskiy wrote in a post on X Platform.
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. Moscow says that Russia used to provide gas to Transdniestria through Ukraine.
The Moldovan President visits the area affected by blackouts and blames Russia's Gazprom
On Thursday, the Moldovan president Maia Sandu visited areas that were experiencing rolling power outages and blamed Russian Gas giant Gazprom. The energy crisis in the pro-Russian enclave of Transdniestria is a result of this. Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson in Moscow, said that Moldova and Ukraine are responsible for the power and heating shortages. The foreign minister of Finland met with officials in both government-controlled Moldova and the separatist enclave and pledged to help both sides achieve a settlement. Transdniestria has been receiving Russian gas for over 30 years. However, Ukraine refused to extend the gas transit agreement past New Year's Day.
Germany's DET confirms Q1 bookings of LNG capacity at two terminals
The German company Deutsche Energy Terminal (DET), which operates the LNG terminals in Brunsbuettel and Wilhelmshaven, has announced that it successfully sold three LNG slots for each of its Wilhelmshaven locations for the first quarter of this year. The pipeline gas supply from Russia into central Europe ceased on January 1, so some countries affected are now relying on other supply routes and increased LNG deliveries. In an email, the company stated that "On Monday, Dec. The operator initially announced that Wilhelmshaven, on the German North Sea coast, would be idle for the first quarter but decided to offer capacity in the end.
After gas cutoff, the breakaway region of Moldova faces prolonged blackouts
Local authorities reported that Saturday saw a longer period of rolling power outages in Transdniestria (the pro-Russian breakaway region of Moldova), which is now without Russian gas because it no longer transits through Ukraine. The flow of Russian gas through Ukraine into central and eastern Europe ceased on New Year's Day, after the transit agreement between the two warring nations expired and Kyiv refused a renewal. Transdniestria is a predominantly Russian-speaking enclave that has lived alongside Moldova since it broke away in the final days of Soviet rule. It received gas from Russian company Gazprom via the pipeline which crosses Ukraine.
Officials say that the breakaway region of Moldova will face new power outages on Saturday.
Local authorities have confirmed that power cuts will continue in Transdniestria on Saturday. The region, which is a breakaway Moldovan region, has been left without Russian supplies after Ukraine decided not to renew a contract for Russian transit gas. After the expiration of the transit agreement, Kyiv refused to do business with Moscow. Transdniestrian officials announced that the first rolling blackouts had begun on Friday night. The region that is mainly Russian-speaking, located along the Moldova-Ukraine frontier and that split from Moldova in 1990, received Russian gas through Ukraine and used it for electricity production.
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 Union increased its efforts in order to reduce its dependency on Russian energy by looking for alternative sources. The gas transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine, which lasted five years, expired on Jan.
Prices of EUROPE GAS are rising as the Ukraine Gas Transit Agreement expires
The Dutch and British wholesale prices of gas rose slightly on Tuesday morning, as the weather forecast for this week is colder and Russian gas supplies to Europe through Ukraine are expected to cease. According to LSEG, the benchmark front-month contract for the Dutch TTF Hub increased by 0.38 euros to 48.23 Euro per megawatt hour at 0913 GMT. The TTF contract for February was up by 0.33 euros to 48.55 Euro/MWh. Gazprom, a Russian gas company, said that it would pump a smaller volume of gas into Europe via Ukraine starting Tuesday. The…
Austria Energy Regulator expects smooth transition when Ukraine gas deal ends
Austrian energy regulator E-Control says that it should not experience any disruption in supply as it is preparing to switch from eastern natural gas supplies to western alternatives following the expiration of Ukraine's Gazprom contract on Tuesday. Ukraine announced that it would terminate its gas transit agreement with Gazprom. This month, energy company OMV also ended its agreement with Gazprom after a dispute with the Russian firm. Markus Krug is the deputy head of E-Control's gas department. He said that the regulator closely followed the events but didn't anticipate any disruptions to gas supply…
As the gas transit dispute escalates, Ukraine's Zelenskiy lashes out at Slovak Prime Minister Fico
On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico of opening a second energy front against Ukraine at the behest of Russia as the dispute over gas transit between the two countries intensified. Ukraine currently pumps Russian gas to Slovakia and other European countries through its territory. However, the current transit agreement - which was signed before Moscow invaded Ukraine - will expire at the end this year. Fico, who met with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week in Moscow…
Prices of EUROPE Gases rise slightly as trading is thin ahead of holidays
The Dutch and British wholesale prices of gas were slightly higher on Wednesday, in light trading ahead Christmas holidays throughout Europe. This is because there remains uncertainty over Russian gas supplies when the Ukraine Gas Transit Deal expires this year. The benchmark contract for the Dutch TTF hub, the front-month contract, was up 0.25 euro at 46.00 euros per Megawatt Hour, or 14.36 mmBtu by 0947 GMT. Meanwhile, the day-ahead contracts was up 0.69 euro at 45.92 Euro/MWh. The day-ahead contract in Britain was 2.15 pence more expensive at 114.50p per therm.
As the Ukraine gas transit agreement nears its expiry, the Russian president meets with Slovak Prime Minister
Pavel Zarubin, a Russian TV presenter, said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Slovak Premier Robert Fico met in the Kremlin Sunday. The meeting took place as a contract for Russian gas transiting through Ukraine is nearing its expiration date. Fico criticised the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy for refusing a contract extension that expires in the next year. In a video that was posted by Zarubin on Telegram, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that the discussion would be centered on the gas transit and current international situation. He stated that the Kremlin Meeting was arranged "a couple of days ago".
SOCAR sources: Russia and Ukraine cannot agree on gas deal mediated by Azerbaijan
Azeri SOCAR, a leading energy company in Azerbaijan, said on Friday that Moscow and Kyiv failed to reach an agreement on the deal brokered by Azerbaijan for Russian gas to be exported to Europe via Ukraine. Azerbaijan was asked by the European Union and Ukraine to facilitate talks with Russia regarding a gas-transit deal due to expire this year. On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that there was no chance of a new agreement with Kyiv for the transit of Russian gas to Europe through Ukraine. Ukraine, which has been fighting Russia's invasion in Europe since February 2022 said that it would not renew a contract…
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. Now one of the last main Russian gas routes…
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, which will increase demand for heating.
Prices for European gas rise as renewed Russian focus on gas is renewed
The Dutch and British wholesale gas price rose on Tuesday afternoon due to renewed concerns about Russian gas supplies to Europe starting in January. By 1505 GMT the benchmark front-month contract for the Dutch TTF hub had risen 1.87 euros to 41.83 euros/MWh, or $12.87/mmbtu. This was a continuation of the gains made in the morning. It fell to 39.10 euros/MWh intraday on Monday, its lowest since November 6. The front-month contract in Britain firmed up by 3.85 pence, to 104 pence/therm. Meanwhile, the day-ahead contract increased 3.75 pence, to 100.8 pence/therm.
Chernyshov, CEO of Naftogaz Ukraine, appointed as deputy PM for new ministry
The Ukrainian parliament approved Oleksiy Cernyshov, the CEO of state-owned oil and gas company Naftogaz as deputy premier to head a newly created ministry for national unification as the third anniversary of Ukraine's full-scale war against Russia approaches. Chernyshov is a 47-year-old man who has been leading Naftogaz since 2022. He was also the minister for regional development from 2020 to 2022. No other candidates were considered. Several lawmakers claim that 237 members supported Chernyshov. The company involved in gas transit would be temporarily headed by the interim chairman.
Moldova and Russia hold talks about Transdniestria Gas Supply amid Ukraine Transit Uncertainty
Moldova reported that the energy minister of Moldova met with the head Russian gas giant Gazprom to discuss alternative routes for supplying Russian gas to Transdniestria, Moldova's breakaway region. If transit through Ukraine is stopped, Moldova will look at other options. Ukraine has stated that it will not prolong the gas transit agreement. Transdniestria, a region backed by Russia, relies heavily on Russian gas delivered via Ukraine. After the St Petersburg talks, the Moldovan energy ministry released a statement saying that the two men (energy minister Victor Parlicov…
Azerbaijan: OPEC+ may consider a rollover of oil cuts at the Dec. 1 meeting
Parviz Shahbazov, Azerbaijan’s Energy minister, said that OPEC+ could decide to keep its current oil production cuts in place as of Jan. 1, at their next meeting on Sunday. The group has already delayed increases due to demand concerns. Shahbazov told Baku that the issue of continued oil production cuts could be raised at the meeting. "OPEC+ may or may not discuss oil production rollover during its next meeting. He added that it is hard to make a prejudgment. Azerbaijan belongs to the OPEC+ Group, which also includes the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, such as Russia. This group will meet on December 1.
Azerbaijan: OPEC+ may consider oil reduction rollover at the Dec. 1 meeting
Parviz Shahbazov, Azerbaijan’s Energy minister, said that OPEC+ could decide to keep its current oil production cuts in place as of Jan. 1, at their next meeting on Sunday. The group has already delayed increases due to demand concerns. Azerbaijan belongs to the OPEC+ Group, which also includes the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, such as Russia. This group will meet on December 1. OPEC+ has already postponed a plan for a gradual increase in production this year by several months due to falling prices, weaker demand, and increased production outside of the group.
