Russia gas row disruption spreads, no talks in sight

[Joanne98]

Source: Reuters

KIEV/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian gas flows to four European Union countries were below normal levels on Saturday after Moscow cut off supplies to Ukraine in a pricing row, and there were no talks in sight to resolve the dispute.

With temperatures below zero overnight in Europe, Bulgaria's Bulgargaz operator joined energy firms in Poland, Romania and Hungary in saying they had noted falls in supply, though flows to Europe's biggest economy, Germany, were not affected.

The European Union, which gets a fifth of its gas from pipelines that cross Ukraine, said it would call a crisis meeting of envoys in Brussels on Monday and demanded that transit and supply contracts be honored.

But the prospects of a swift settlement to the dispute appeared remote. Moscow alleged Kiev was stealing gas intended for Europe and playing political games, while Ukraine accused Russia of using "energy blackmail."



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4BN32B20090103

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Oh God. You got to admit Russia is really good at getting even.

[ogneopasno]

1. They do this all the time. It's not a big surprise.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

2. That it is.

Between resource control and polonium poisoning, they pretty much have the revenge thing covered.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. Energy blackmail, coming to a city near you.

Think the Corpocracy has not thought of this?
Enron.
Gasoline.
Wheat.

[dipsydoodle]

4. Ukraine warns EU of gas 'problem'

Gazprom says it can no longer count on Ukraine as a transit route to EU countries and is seeking alternatives.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7809450.stm

If they do eventually re-route the Ukraine better makes friends with Russia again fast to get any gas at all.

[Igel]

5. I don't understand.

If the gas to the 5 countries goes through Ukraine and have a common pipe distribution system for at least part of the way, it seems odd that only Germany would be unaffected.

It also seems odd that Germany, the European or NATO country in the lot most unlikely to support any action by Ukraine (or Georgia), is unaffected, while the ex-Soviet countries are affected. Then again, Germany probably pays the most.

Then again, it may be the case that there are separate pipelines for various countries from before it passes from Russian to Ukrainian control, and only those heading for Eastern Europe are being tapped by Ukraine. Stranger things have happened. (Except I don't trust the siloviki, not as far as I can through Kolyma.)

[Dead_Parrot]

6. Germany have another option for NG...

...The Yamal Pipeline, which cuts through Belarus and Poland: It maybe they are able to make up any difference that way.

Of course, Poland use both pipelines too, but the two are well separated: if they don't have the infrastructure to shift the gas around within the country they could still have shortages in the south.

Besides, since Schröder moved from Chancellor of Germany to Chairman of Gazprom's Nord Stream project (Taking a billion euro guarantee with him), the two have been best chums...