Russia & CIS

Nord Stream 2 Says Departing Top Manager Has Been Replaced

Nord Stream 2 has announced that a top manager who left the project on Friday has already been replaced by someone with heavy involvement in both the current project and its predecessor, Nord Stream 1, but said the name could not be revealed at this time for procedural reasons.

Russia's Gazprom Seeks to Retroactively Raise Price of Gas Sold to Poland

Russia's Gazprom is looking to retroactively raise the price of natural gas sold to Polish gas company PGNiG since 2017.

Croatia's Floating LNG Terminal to Start Operations in January Fully Booked

Croatia's energy minister said the country's floating LNG terminal will begin operations on Jan. 1 2021 and is fully booked through Q3 2023.

Nord Stream 2 Seeks Updated Permit to Complete Pipeline in Danish Waters

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline has applied for a new permit from Danish authorities in order to complete the remaining 75 miles of subsea pipeline in Danish waters.

Ukraine’s Big Bet: Upgrading, Expanding Gas Transmission Networks

The World Bank will spend $250 million to improve the efficiency of Ukraine’s Gas Transmission System Operator (GTSO). One key goal of this ambitious project is “to strengthen its technical and institutional capacity.”

U.S. Oil for Belarus Reaches Europe as Country Seeks to Reduce Reliance on Russia

The first shipment of U.S. oil bound for Belarus reached Europe late on Friday as the Eastern European country looks to reduce its reliance on neighboring Russia.

Trans Adriatic Pipeline Enters Initial Testing Phase

The Trans Adriatic Pipeline has begun testing flows of natural gas on 2.5-mile section at the Greek-Albanian border as it moves toward European deliveries later this year, but the bidding phase was postponed due to the global market downturn.

Bulgaria's State Gas Firm Seeks Loans for Pipeline Construction

Bulgaria's state gas firm Bulgartransgaz is seeking up to 400 million euros ($453 million) to finance an extension of the TurkStream gas pipeline and other gas projects.

Kazakh Firm Plans to Spin Off Gas Shipping and Trading Unit

Kazakh state oil and gas firm KazMunayGaz said it plans to spin off its natural gas shipping and trading subsidiary Kaztransgas and will seek creditors' consent for the move.

U.S. Senators Propose Tighter Sanctions on Nord Stream 2

Several U.S. senators introduced a bill on Thursday that would expand sanctions on Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline which Washington says will increase Moscow's influence in Europe.

BP Turns Over Rights to Operate South Caucasus Pipeline

BP has turned over rights to operate the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP), part of the network that is due to start carrying gas from Azerbaijan to Europe this year, to a unit of Azeri state energy firm SOCAR.

U.S. Senators to Announce Sanctions Bill on Nord Stream 2 Pipeline

A group of U.S. senators is expected to announce legislation on Wednesday that would expand sanctions levied against the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline led by Russia's Gazprom.

Bulgaria Still Aims to Complete TurkStream Pipeline Extension by Year-End — PM

Bulgaria's Prime Minister is hoping his country will complete its portion of the TurkStream pipeline by the end of 2020, despite construction delays brought about due to the coronavirus pandemic.

U.S. Senators Weigh Additional Nord Stream 2 Sanctions

Two U.S. senators are considering leveraging additional sanctions against Gazprom's Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

Ukraine's Odessa Receives First WTI Oil Cargo from U.S. — Sources

Ukraine's Odessa import facility received its first West Texas Intermediate oil cargo from the U.S. this week after futures prices turned negative last month.

Poland Expects Russia to Continue Gas Transit to Europe

Polish authorities expect that Russia's Gazprom will continue to transport gas through their country into Europe even after a transit deal between the two countries expired earlier this week.

Gazprom Begins Preparation for Power of Siberia-2

Russian gas giant Gazprom has begun a feasibility study for its Power of Siberia-2 natural gas pipeline.

Poland, Russia to Cut Decades-Old Gas Transit Ties

Poland will not be renewing its gas transit deal with Russia's Gazprom once their current deal expires later this month.

Germany Denies EU Waiver for Nord Stream 2 Pipeline

Operators of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline were denied a waiver of EU regulations for the pipeline on Friday by German energy regulators.

Gazprom Natural Gas Exports Slump 19% in Q1 — Source

Citing weak demand, a source told Reuters that natural gas exports on Gazprom pipelines fell by nearly 20% in the first quarter.

Russian Pipelaying Vessel Reaches Baltic as Nord Stream 2 Target Looms

A Russian pipelaying vessel that could be used to complete construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany has arrived in the Baltic Sea.

CPC Oil Producers Eye New Transit Routes via Russia’s Transneft

Oil producers in Kazakhstan are seeking to divert flows away from the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) to systems owned by Russia's Transeft as CPC Blend margins fall.

Chevron Sells Azerbaijan Pipeline Assets

Chevron announced that its affiliate companies have sold their non-operating interests in the Azeri-Chirag-Deepwater Gunashli (ACG) oil fields, including interests in two pipelines, to MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas for $1.57 billion.

Kazakhstan Pipeline Work Continues Despite Tengiz Slowdown

Kazakhstan's biggest oil producer has reduced some work on its $45 billion expansion project in the west of the country due to the coronavirus outbreak, but pipeline construction continues.

Russia's Rosneft Becomes Top Oil Supplier to Belarus

Russian state oil company Rosneft will be biggest oil supplier to Belarus this month, after Moscow and Minsk settled their oil price row, Belarus state energy company Belneftekhim said on Monday.

Kazakh Oil Producers Seek New Pipeline Route

Oil producers in Kazakhstan are looking for a new pipeline route to Baltic and Black sea export facilities.

U.S. Oil Output Set to Plunge as Storage Fills

Ultra-low oil prices and full storage tanks and pipelines will force an unprecedentedly fast decline in U.S. output this year as producers are forced to choke or shut old wells and cut back new drilling, writes market analyst John Kemp.

Gazprom Workers Leave Hospital After Negative Coronavirus Tests

Twenty Gazprom workers, who were airlifted to a hospital following a coronavirus scare last week, have been discharged after the tests came back negative, a Gazprom spokesman said on Monday.

Gazprom Isolates 20 Workers at Field Feeding Nord Stream Pipeline

Russian gas company Gazprom has isolated 20 workers at a major natural gas field which feeds the Nord Stream pipeline after one worker tested positive for the coronavirus.

Trump Says He Will Enter Saudi-Russia Oil Fray at Appropriate Time

President Trump has said he will get involved in the oil price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia at the 'appropriate time.'