Page 100 - RusRPTDec23

have signed an agreement to design and construct a trans-border gas pipeline across the Ussuri River, Gazprom said on November 1. The agreement regulates cooperation of the companies in designing and construction of the pipeline near the Russian city of Dalnerechensk and the Chinese city of Hulin. The pipeline is part of a so-called Far Eastern route of Russia’s gas exports to China.
Russian gas giant Gazprom together with Kazakhstan is considering the route of gas supplies to Astana, CEO Alexei Miller said on November 1 during the St. Petersburg International Gas Forum. “Very many regions of Kazakhstan have a border with the regions of the Russian Federation. And, of course, it is economically effective, beneficial to look at the possibility of gas supply and gasification of the northern, northeastern regions of Kazakhstan from the territory of Russia. And for this purpose to consider new gas transportation routes,” he said. “In particular, a route that would involve gasification of Astana. I can say that such a route is currently in our joint consideration, a technical and economic analysis has already been done.” Gazprom is in talks with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan on 15-year contracts and plans to expand gas supplies through the Central Asia–Center gas pipeline system, Miller said. The company also considers gas transit through Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to third countries, Miller said. First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Roman Sklyar said that Kazakhstan plans to sign contracts with Gazprom for 15 years in 2024. The two sides also intend to build up the capacity of the Central Asia–Center gas pipeline and consider gas transfer through Kazakhstan to other countries, he said.
Hungary has urged the European Commission to initiate an infringement procedure against Bulgaria over Sofia's new tax on Russian gas transit and called for Bulgaria to suspend application of the levy in the meantime.
Bulgaria passed a new law Oct. 13 that imposed higher transit fees for Russian gas supply transiting Bulgaria -- including to Hungary -- as part of Sofia's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Boka said the tax was a violation of EU law as it qualified as having an equivalent effect of a customs duty, which contradicted the rules of the EU's internal market, the customs union and the common trade policy.
The new Bulgarian law, which is already in effect, imposes a new duty of Lev20/MWh (Eur10.27/MWh) on the transit of Russian gas.
The stand-off comes as European gas prices remain high. Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, assessed the benchmark Dutch TTF month-ahead price on Nov. 9 at Eur49.11/MWh.
100 RUSSIA Country Report December 2023 www.intellinews.com