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.
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…
Strong Winds Send Spot Prices Lower
Expectations for a surge in wind generation in the region sent central European day ahead power prices tumbling on Tuesday, offsetting cold weather that has driving heating demand, trader said. On regional exchanges, Czech and Slovak electricity for Wednesday fell 37 percent to 31.81 euros ($39) per megawatt hour while Hungarian day ahead…
Easing Wind, Cold Push Spot Prices Higher
Forecasts for cold weather and lower wind generation levels pushed Czech, Slovak and Hungarian European power prices higher on Monday, traders said. On regional exchanges, Czech, Slovak and Hungarian electricity for Tuesday rose a little more than 13 percent to 50.61 euros ($62) per megawatt hour as temperatures around freezing also helped support prices.
Ukraine: Russia Gas Resumes on Dec. 11
Ukraine's gas transport monopoly Ukrtransgaz said on Monday Russia would resume supplies of natural gas on Dec. 11 after a six-month gap due to a dispute over prices and unpaid debts. Without Russian gas and hit by separatist violence that has disrupted its own coal mining, Ukraine has been forced to introduce widespread power cuts. The energy ministry had expected flows from Russia to resume on Monday.
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. Slovak gas pipeline operator Eustream confirmed they would pump more gas to Ukraine, but gave no figure.
Ukraine to Prepay for Russian Gas Today or Tomorrow
Ukraine will make a prepayment for 1 billion cubic metres of Russian gas on Wednesday or Thursday, Ukrainian Energy Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn said, as the deepening winter forces the country to rely for energy on its powerful neighbour. Russia, which cut off supplies to Ukraine in June because of a standoff over prices, has insisted that Ukraine pay for supplies in advance.
Ukraine Gas Reserves Now Down Significantly
The volume of gas kept in Ukrainian underground gas storages has fallen by around 8.4 percent since Kiev started pumping gas on Oct. 20 for heating in colder weather, state-run gas transport monopoly Ukrtransgaz said on Monday. The company's spokesman said there were 15.35 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas in storage as of Nov. 15 compared with 16.75 bcm as of Oct. 20.
Czech and Slovak Gain as Hungarian Premium Persists
Czech and Slovak spot power rose on Wednesday on forecasts for less renewable supply while reduced import capacity kept Hungarian day ahead prices at a regional premium, traders said. On regional exchanges, electricity for Thursday delivery rose a little more than 2 percent to 39.30 euros ($50.79) per megawatt hour while Hungarian day ahead dropped 22 percent but remained at a regional premium of 45.64 euros.
Poland Sees Sharply Lower Gas Supplies From Russia
Poland said on Wednesday the volume of gas it has received so far this week from Russian gas monopoly Gazprom was down by at least 20 percent. Some European countries believe Moscow may use a disruption of gas to Europe as a trump card in its confrontation with the West over Ukraine. The row has already dragged ties between Moscow and the West down to their worst since the Cold War.
European Gas for Ukraine after Russia Cutoff
Ukraine imported gas from Poland and Hungary in July after Russia cut off supplies, and the volume amounted to about a tenth of its imports a year ago, according to domestic gas transport monopoly Ukrtransgaz on Thursday. Gas imports totalled 221 million cubic meters last month - 118 million from Poland and 103 million from Hungary - against around 2 billion cubic meters (bcm) a year earlier…
Ukraine Suspects Pipeline Blast was an Attack
Ukraine said on Tuesday it was treating an explosion on a pipeline carrying Russian gas to the rest of Europe as a possible "act of terrorism", intended to discredit Ukraine as a reliable supplier. The blast, after Russia cut supplies to Kiev in a price row but continued supplying the European Union, caused no casualties and did not interrupt…
Volumes Normal After Ukraine Gas Pipe Blast
Natural gas pressure and transit volumes on the border between Slovakia and Ukraine were normal at 1400 GMT on Tuesday, Slovak gas transit firm Eustream said. Earlier on Tuesday, Ukrainian police said an explosion rocked the Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhgorod pipeline, a major supply route for gas being transported through Ukraine to the European Union.
