Europe
French Union Extends Blockade of Fuel Deliveries from Total Refinery
France's hardline CGT trade union voted on Monday to extend a blockade of outbound fuel deliveries from Total's Grandpuits refinery near Paris until Jan. 6 as part of nationwide protests against a planned pensions reform.
Russia May Use Vessel Docked in Pacific to Finish Nord Stream 2
Russia may use a vessel currently docked at a far eastern port to finish the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany, Russia's energy minister Alexander Novak told reporters on Friday.
French Protests Disrupt Output at Total's Grandpuits Refinery
Total's Grandpuits refinery near Paris is producing at a reduced rate after the CGT union voted to halt output as part of nationwide protests against a pensions reforms, the French energy company said.
Putin says Russia has Vessel to Build Nord Stream 2
President Vladimir Putin said Russia has a pipe-laying vessel to complete the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany, the Kommersant daily newspaper reported, following sanctions imposed by Washington.
French Strike has Little Apparent Impact on Pipelines, Yet
France's hardline CGT trade union has rejected pleas for a Christmas truce and has vowed to intensify a nationwide strike to try to force the government to drop its plan to reform the country's pensions system. Here is how the strike is impacting the sector.
Russia to Retaliate for US Sanctions Against Nord Stream 2
The Russian government has vowed to retaliate against U.S. sanctions on a new Russia-Germany pipeline, work on which was suspended on Saturday.
Europe’s Gas Distribution in Need of Evolution
Europe is in transition toward a low-carbon economy in which fossil fuels’ share of the energy mix is projected to fall in coming years, but import of natural gas are expected to rise. This means that Europe’s distribution network capacity will have to be improved.
Cyprus, Greece, Israel to Sign EastMed Pipeline Deal on Jan. 2
The leaders of Cyprus, Greece and Israel plan to sign an agreement early in the new year for the building of the eastern Mediterranean natural gas pipeline, the Greek prime minister’s office announced Sunday.
No doubt of Nord Stream 2 Completion, but Later at Higher Cost
Russian and German officials say sanctions will add time and cost to construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline between their two countries, but alternatives are available for completion by in 2020.
U.S. Sanctions Halt Allseas Work on Nord Stream 2
Swiss-Dutch company Allseas said it had suspended work on building a major Russia-to-Germany natural gas pipeline in order to avoid U.S. sanctions contained in legislation signed by President Donald Trump on Friday.
Turkey Threatens Retaliation Against Possible U.S. Pipeline Sanctions
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying on Friday that Ankara would retaliate against potential U.S. sanctions over its purchase of Russian defense systems and the TurkStream gas pipeline.
Russia, Ukraine, EU Agree 'In Principle' on New Gas Deal
Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission, after hours-long talks on Thursday, agreed in principle on a new gas deal starting after Jan 1, 2020, European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic told a briefing.
Russia's Putin Says Moscow Plans to Keep Gas Transit Via Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Moscow planned to keep gas transit via Ukraine irrespective of a number of gas pipelines Moscow currently builds to bypass its ex-Soviet neighbor.
Orsted Divests LNG Business to Glencore
Danish energy group Orsted said on Wednesday it has agreed to divest its liquefied natural gas business to trading house Glencore.
Bill Imposing Sanctions on Companies Building Nord Stream 2 Heads to White House
The U.S. Senate on Tuesday passed legislation to slap sanctions on companies building a pipeline to bring Russian natural gas to Germany, but it was uncertain whether the measures would slow completion of the project.
U.S. Sanctions Could Hit Nord Stream 2 Construction in Danish waters
Germany believes a new U.S. law imposing sanctions on companies building Russia's contested seabed Nord Stream 2 pipeline could affect ongoing construction works off the coast of Denmark, Bild newspaper said, citing a government document.
Chinese-led Consortium to Build Cyprus' Gas Import Terminal
Cyprus signed a deal on Friday with a Chinese-led consortium to build the east Mediterranean island nation's first natural gas import terminal that officials said will help the country generate cleaner and cheaper energy.
MET Energy Holding Plans Billion-Euro M&A Deals in Europe
Swiss-based MET Energy plans to expand rapidly in Europe over the next three years via acquisitions worth at least 1 billion euros ($1.10 billion) once a deal with Singapore conglomerate Keppel Corporation is finalized next month, MET's CEO said on Monday.
Polish Experts Seek Evidence in Gas Blast that Killed 8
Investigators in southern Poland said they are questioning witnesses and gathering evidence in their probe into a gas blast that killed eight members of one family, including four children.
Gazprom Proposes Short-Term Gas Deal with Ukraine
Russia's Gazprom said it has sent a letter to Ukraine formally proposing either to extend a current deal supplying gas to the country for its own use and for transit to Europe or to sign a new one-year agreement.
Bulgaria Signs up Saudi-Led Group for TurkStream Extension
Bulgaria’s state gas company signed a $1.2 billion (1.1 billion euro) contract with Saudi-led group Arkad to build a gas pipeline to carry mainly Russian natural gas.
Germany Makes Legal Changes to Ease Nord Stream 2 Completion
Germany's parliament on Wednesday approved changes to the law governing the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to make it compliant with European Union regulations, removing a hurdle to completion of the Russia-led project.
Hungary Expects Gas from Russia's TurkStream by Late 2021
Hungary plans to be able to get natural gas from the TurkStream pipeline by the end of 2021, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said after hosting a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Denmark Approves Nord Stream 2 Project
The Nord Stream 2 project has been approved by Denmark, the last remaining country needed to finish the pipeline.
Dirty Oil Settlement Expected Between Lukoil, MOL
Russian oil producer Lukoil and Hungarian energy company MOL are reportedly set to sign a settlement deal over contaminated oil during Russian President Putin's visit to Budapest this week.
Pipeline Operators: Germany's Winter Gas Supplies Secure
Germany will have enough natural gas this winter, despite restrictions on transit routes Opal and TENP 1, as storage levels are close to 100%, pipeline operators' group FNB said on Monday.
Bulgartransgaz Raises 50 Million Euros Above Target for TurkStream
Bulgartransgaz has raised 50 million euros more than it originally sought to finance its portion of the TurkStream pipeline.
Norway Gas Production to Decline in 2020 with Maintenance
Maintenance at Norway's natural gas fields and processing plants is scheduled to cut production capacity by some 5.35 Bcm in 2020, less than in 2019, according to a Reuters calculation based on data from system operator Gassco.
EIB to Finance Bulgaria-Greece Gas Link
The European Investment Bank agreed on Thursday to finance the construction of a 182-km gas pipeline linking Bulgaria with Greece that will end Sofia's complete dependence on Russian gas and help diversify supplies in southeastern Europe.
Ukraine Wants Long-Term Gas Transit Deal With Russia
Ukraine wants a long-term gas transit contract with Russia based on European standards, the prime minister said on Wednesday, adding Kiev would not agree to a short-term deal that Moscow seeks.
