Russia NEWS

While addressing a gathering of Russia's top businessmen on Wednesday, Putin said that Russia has a “pipe-laying vessel” to complete the construction of the Nord Stream 2. Russian President also informed that the construction of the pipeline will be delayed due to the sanctions. Pipe-laying vessel, Academic Cherskiy was bought by Gazprom to use if European companies denied service for Nord Stream 2.

Oil prices rose in the international market on Tuesday, pushed up by comments from Russian energy minister towards OPEC-led supply cut. Brent crude LCOc1 climbed to $66.44 a barrel. U.S. WTI CLc1 was traded higher at $60.53 a barrel. Russian energy minister, in an interview on Monday, said that cooperation with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) would continue “until the market requires it”.

Russian news agencies reported on Saturday that Gazprom will pay $2.9 billion to Ukrainian energy firm, Naftogaz to put an end to a long-running dispute over transit fees for gas transferred to Europe. CEO, Gazprom said that in return for the payment Naftogaz had agreed to drop all other legal action. The existing transit contract between the two ex-Soviet nations elapses at the end of the year.

Russia and China, yesterday, kickstarted the 3,000-km-long Power of Siberia pipeline for the transportation of gas from Siberia to northeast China. The launch was overseen by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The pipeline is being seen as an attempt to boost economic and political ties between Moscow and Beijing. The move will fortify China’s spot as Russia’s top export market.

Poland's, PGNiG has decided not to renew the major contract with Russia's Gazprom after it ends in 2022. The company has already notified Gazprom about its "intent to terminate" the contract. This Yamal contract was started in 1996. Currently, two-third of the gas consumed in the nation is delivered by Russia under Yamal. Poland has been long wanting to seize its dependency on Russian gas.

Total, Novatek and other shareholders of the project have given an agreement on the final investment decision for Arctic LNG 2. This project is a major LNG development on the Gydan peninsula, Russia. The production capacity of the project is expected to be 19.8 MM tons per year. Total has 10% interest in Arctic LNG 2, Novatek 60%, CNOOC 10%, CNPC 10% and a Mitsui-Jogmec consortium, Japan Arctic LNG 10%.

Amidst a row of energy deals to strengthen the economic ties between the nations, India and Russia eye at $30 billion of annual trade by 2025. India aims at increasing the proportion of gas in its energy mix to 15% in the near future. "We are looking at investing in additional oilfields in Russia ... we are also looking at sourcing LNG", said India's Foreign secretary.

Russian gas producer Gazprom has reported a fall in non-CIS gas exports in the period of Jan-Aug this year. There has been a decline of 4.5% in natural gas exports outside the former Soviet Union. Although the output of the company has increased by 1.7% reaching 331 bcm in the same period. Gazprom also revealed that the company's gas exports to Europe and its prices will fall in 2019.

Russia is considering transferring operational management over oil input points to pipeline monopoly Transneft. Russian Prime Minister and Transneft's Chief Executive had a meeting to discuss about this matter. Transneft has assured that it is working towards improving the quality of contaminated water. In April, the discovery of contaminated crude through the Druzhba left the oil market in shock.

The tariff on the transportation of Russian oil via Belarus is set to increase by 3.7% in September this year. The tariff on the transit will be further raised on Jan. 1, 2020, informed Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak. Belarus has agreed with Russia on this decision to compensate for a drop in flows linked to oil contamination earlier this year.

India's state-owned GAIL in its recent report has announced about hiring a newly-built LNG ship from Japan's Mitsui OSK Lines. The ship will be used for transporting gas from nations like the US. GAIL is planning to charter hire additional vessels. The company has also informed about its recent long-term LNG contract with USA and Russia.

The pipeline monopoly of Russia, Transneft slammed Rosneft on Monday. The company rebuked due to the disinterest shown by the oil producer to help resolve a contaminated oil crisis in the Russian Druzhba. On this, Rosneft said, "Instead of not so constructive comments, we'd like to see a clear and public plan of measures". This problem has tainted Russia's credibility as an energy supplier.

Finland's Neste is selling its fuel stations to PJSC Tatneft. 75 fuel stations and a terminal in the St. Petersburg region in Russia will be sold to Tatneft. Neste is shifting its focus towards renewable and is aiming to emerge as a global leader in renewable and circular solutions, informed its CEO. 75 stations which are being transferred to Tatneft can still use Neste's brand name for up to 5 years.

Oil prices jumped on Monday over looming extended supply cut decision gained support from Saudi Arabia, Russia and Iraq. Brent crude futures were traded 1.7% higher, at $65.86 a barrel. US WTI jumped by 1.9% to $59.57 a barrel. OPEC and its allies will meet on Monday to discuss the extension of oil supply cuts. Top producers from the cartel were seen endorsing supply cut extension yesterday.

Russia’s natural gas giant, Gazprom has said that despite the threat of US sanctions, work at the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline will continue since the pipeline is "past the point of no return". The $12-billion Nord Stream 2 will amplify Russian gas shipments to the EU's biggest economy, Germany. The final major hurdle in the way of Nord Stream 2 is obtaining approval from Denmark.

PKN Orlen-owned Czech oil refiner Unipetrol has halted oil import through the Druzhba pipeline from Russia, citing chloride contamination. The chief of Czech state strategic reserves yesterday tweeted, “Unipetrol has stopped taking oil from the Druzhba pipeline due to detected contamination by chlorides. Further tests of samples are underway”. Czech Industry and Trade Minister was earlier quoted informing about detecting an increased level of contamination in the Druzhba pipeline.

The largest pipeline company in the world, Transneft reportedly informed about discovering more contamination at a section of the Druzhba pipeline from Belarus to Poland. Transneft said that pumping was halted on Wednesday evening, but later resumed on Thursday. In April, all the west-bound flows through the pipeline were ceased due to extreme levels of organic chloride in the crude, distressing refiners in numerous European countries.

Energy Minister of Saudi Arabia, Khalid al-Falih has informed that the energy supermajor, Saudi Aramco has extended its offer to join Novatek's project. Novatek is a Russian gas producer who is currently working on its Arctic LNG 2 project. Moreover, Faliah also said that the firm was studying about Rosneft and Gazprom's LNG projects. And possibilities are that Saudi might invest in Russian petrochemical company Sibur.