Russia evacuates another border area amid increasing threat from Ukrainian units
After Kyiv increased its military activities near the border, just days after the biggest incursion by the Ukrainians into Russian sovereign territory since the beginning of the 2022 conflict, Russia evacuated parts in another area next to Ukraine. Ukrainian forces crossed the Russian border in the early hours of Tuesday morning and advanced across western parts of Russia's Kursk Region. This surprise attack may have been intended to gain leverage for possible ceasefire negotiations after the U.S. presidential election.
GSP Offshore, Trident Black Sea Bid in Ukraine
GSP Holding company GSP Offshore SRL is the preferred drilling and engineering services provider of Trident Black Sea, in its bid for the right to negotiate a production sharing agreement (PSA) with the Ukrainian government for the offshore Dolphin block in the northwestern part of the Black Sea.According to a press release from the Romanian company providing offshore integrated services for oil and gas industry said that Trident Black Sea will be the operator of the project,…
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…
Ukraine Backs Naftogaz Reforms to Unlock EBRD Loan
The Ukrainian government has backed plans to reform the management of state energy major Naftogaz, which will allow the company to receive a much-needed $300 million loan to buy gas this winter, its chief executive said on Friday. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which approved the loan in September, has urged Ukraine to give Naftogaz more independence, including a board of independent directors. It regards such changes as crucial to the country's efforts to modernise its loss-making energy sector.
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.
Shell Might Pull Out of Ukraine Well
Oil major Shell is considering withdrawing from its last exploration well in Ukraine as the project has been on hold for nearly a year due to the conflict between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces. Shell said it has been unable to perform its commitments in relation to the Yuzivska production sharing agreement (PSA) with project partner Nadra Yuzivska LLC due to a force majeure that has been in place since last July. "We have begun discussions with the Ukrainian government and our partner Nadra Yuzivska LLC on the way forward with the PSA," Shell said in a statement.
Gas Supply to Ukraine
The Gazprom headquarters hosted today a briefing session led by Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Company's Management Committee dedicated to the Company's activities this winter. Special attention was given to the contracts for gas supply to Ukraine and its transit to Europe. It was pointed out that today was the sixth anniversary of the Ukrainian Government approving the results of the negotiations on Russian natural gas supply to Ukraine from 2009 to 2019 and on the terms and conditions of its transit via Ukraine to Europe.
Ukraine: Chevron Plans to Pull Out of Shale Gas Deal
U.S. energy major Chevron plans to withdraw from a $10 billion shale gas deal with Kiev, a senior Ukrainian presidential official said on Monday. Ukraine signed a shale gas production-sharing agreement with Chevron amid great fanfare in November 2013, just months before mass protests in Kiev ousted former president Viktor Yanukovich, plunging the country into a major crisis with Russia. "There is information that they (Chevron) are planning this decision," Valeriy Chaliy told journalists, referring to a report by local media that Chevron had told the government it was pulling out of the deal.
How a 29-year-old Ukrainian Made a Killing on Russian Gas
A young businessman accused of being a frontman for former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovich made $100 million or more from buying Russian gas at a preferential rate and selling it on at higher prices, according a former senior employee and a Reuters examination of official data. Serhiy Kurchenko, 29 years old and a self-declared billionaire, made the money by selling cheap gas supplied by companies run by Dmitry Firtash, a prominent Ukrainian oligarch. Firtash has long-standing business connections to Russia and his companies were able to buy gas cheaply from Gazprom…
Gazprom: Gas Resumes after Ukraine Pays
Russia, Ukraine reach deal on supplies in Brussels; dispute has threatened winter supplies to Europe. Russia may restart gas supply to Ukraine as soon as next week if Kiev pays $2.2 billion worth of debt and pre-payments, gas export monopoly Gazprom said on Friday, under a deal that is also vital to ensure deliveries to Europe. Moscow, Kiev and the European Union clinched an agreement on Thursday to resume supplies of Russian gas to Ukraine over the winter and secure transit of gas via Ukraine to Europe, despite tensions over a pro-Russian separatist rebellion in east Ukraine.
Ukraine Says Needs Additional 5 bcm of Gas for Winter
Ukraine needs an additional five billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas to get through the coming cold season without difficulties, Deputy Prime Minister Volodymyr Groisman said on Thursday. Ukraine relies heavily on Russia for gas imports but Moscow halted them in mid-June in a dispute with Kiev over pricing. Kiev has turned to European Union countries to help compensate for the shortfall. European operators said Russia's gas monopoly Gazprom reduced gas supplies to Poland and Slovakia in recent days Gazprom says it is pumping supplies according to contracts.
Curve Jumps on Ukraine Gas Transit Concerns
European power forwards rose on Friday, tracking a rise in gas prices after Ukraine's prime minister said proposed Ukrainian sanctions against Russia could have an impact on gas transits to Europe. German baseload power for the year ahead, calendar year 2015 , hit the 36 euro ($48.2) per MWh level for the first time since July 29 in early afternoon trade, and was last trading at 35.90 euros/MWh, up 20 cents. The less liquid French Cal 15 contract was up 10 cents at 43.05 euros per MWh.
Europe Gas, Coal Prices Jump on Ukraine Crash
European gas and coal prices jumped on Thursday after a Malaysian Airlines passenger jet crashed over eastern Ukraine, as traders feared a sharper deterioration of relations with major energy producer Russia. "The whole energy complex just went. There's a general fear of a massive escalation," said one trader. Wholesale gas prices in Britain, Europe's largest market, leapt nearly five percent. Gas for delivery on Friday and this coming winter both closed 4.9 percent higher to 38.70 and 59.50 pence per therm respectively.
Ukraine May Seek State of Emergency on Energy Market
The Ukrainian government will seek parliamentary approval on Thursday for a possible state of emergency in the energy sector which would empower it to dictate to gas companies, including private ones, to whom they should supply gas and for how much. Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk's announcement signalled he wanted tight central control of domestic energy supplies as a Russian decision to cut off gas to Ukraine was taking effect. Russia, Ukraine's main supplier of strategic supplies of gas as well the main provider of natural gas for Europe via Ukraine…
Vladimir Putin Urges Ukrainians to Negotiate With Rebels
Ukrainian government troops and pro-Russian separatist forces on Sunday fierce fighting, which makes the Ukrainian authorities to make further unilateral ceasefire declared by pressure. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin urged the Ukrainian authorities to negotiate with the rebels. Russia and Ukraine were held in Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union anniversary, Putin and Ukrainian President Poroshenko emphasized the need to achieve peace in eastern Ukraine. Friday night…
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 gas flows but has increased tension as Kiev tries to end an uprising by pro-Russian separatists. The Interior Ministry issued a statement which described the blast…
NATO Experts Advise Ukraine On Nuclear Plant Safety
NATO experts have visited Ukraine to advise authorities there on improving the safety of nuclear power plants, gas pipelines and other critical infrastructure amid growing violence and fears of conflict with Russia, officials said on Wednesday. Ukraine's Ambassador to NATO, Ihor Dolhov, said the NATO civilian experts had visited Ukraine last month to assess critical infrastructure such as nuclear plants, pumping stations for gas pipelines and hydro-electric plants. "In any country, in any situation, there are plans and additional measures to protect infrastucture objects, including in Ukraine.
Slovakia Signs Deal to Send Gas to Ukraine
Slovakia and Ukraine signed a deal on Monday that allows the European Union to send a limited amount of gas to Ukraine, but providing Kiev with less than it hoped for to cushion the blow should Russia turn off the taps. Ukraine has been trying to secure alternative supplies to those from Russia's Gazprom since Moscow annexed Crimea last month and Gazprom raised prices for its gas to levels Ukraine is refusing to pay. Russia's seizure of Crimea from Ukraine has set off the most serious East-West rift since the end of the Cold War, resulting in EU and U.S.
Slovakia agrees To Ship Limited Gas To Ukraine
Slovakia and Ukraine have reached an agreement on opening up limited capacity for reverse flow of natural gas from central Europe to Ukraine and will sign the deal on Monday, the Slovak Economy Ministry said on Saturday. Ukraine is trying to secure alternative supplies to those from Russia's Gazprom since Russia annexed Crimea last month and Gazprom nearly doubled prices for its gas to levels Ukraine is refusing to pay. Russia's seizure of Crimea from Ukraine has set off the most serious East-West rift since the end of the Cold War, resulting in EU and U.S.
Ukraine Haggles with Slovakia for Bigger Gas Shipments
Ukraine could sign a deal on Monday allowing the shipment of up to 10 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas a year from Slovakia, ministers from the two countries said, although Ukraine says its neighbour could pump three times that much. Russia's seizure of Crimea from Ukraine has set off the most serious East-West rift since the end of the Cold War, resulting in EU and U.S. sanctions, mostly in the form of visa bans and asset freezes for a number of Russian officials. Moscow has…
