Page 136 - RusRPTJan23

Russian–Chinese gas cooperation are being formed... We are ready to strengthen an integrated partnership with the Russian side in the spheres of pipeline and liquefied gas," the official said. He added that Russian gas supplies to the country rose by 173% on the year in January–October and that the Chinese market is large enough for more Russian gas.
The Baltic Pipe gas pipeline from Norway to Poland has been operating at full capacity. The Baltic Pipe gas pipeline, which connects Norwegian gas fields through Denmark with Poland, reached full gas pumping capacity, the Polish operator GAZ-System reported. It is noted that the Danish operator Energinet completed connecting the compressor station in Zeeland to the Baltic Pipe infrastructure, which allowed the gas pipeline to reach the design capacity of 10 billion cubic metres per year towards Poland. "Thanks to this infrastructure, we can annually import up to 10 billion cubic metres of gas to Poland, which covers more than 60% of the country's annual demand," said the head of GAZ-System, Tomasz Stepien.
Romania starts supplying gas to Moldova, countering dependence on Russia. Romania aims to connect Moldovan gas transport to the European pipeline network to help Moldova fight against Russia’s gas blackmail, Romanian gas company Transgaz said in comments to Romanian outlet Agerpress. The gas will be delivered along the Iaşi-Ungheni pipeline, completed in 2013, with an extension pipeline to the capital Chisinau built in 2019.
Germany signed contracts to charter four floating terminals to import liquefied natural gas in partnership with utilities RWE AG and Uniper SE as it races to reduce its energy dependence on Russia. Shipping companies Hoegh LNG and Dynagas will each provide two of the LNG terminals -- which together have the capacity to convert at least 20 billion cubic metres of the super-cooled gas per year, about a fifth of Germany’s needs, the economy ministry said Thursday in an emailed statement. RWE and Uniper will operate them, it added.
Qatar would provide Germany with LNG under a long-term deal signed in December however, hopes that Qatar could be the energy saviour are overdone. Qatar will provide 2mn tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG to Germany over 15 years from 2026. This is equivalent to just 3% of Germany’s total gas consumption in 2021 and, if anything, this new deal is pretty much a renewal of a 2017 deal for 1mtpa that lasts until 2024. That said, it is clear Germany is keen to get to the front of the queue and secure its energy security as the gigantic Qatar North Field comes online from 2025. The North Field will increase Qatar’s LNG output capacity by 64% from 77mtpa now to 126mpta – so from Qatar’s perspective, the Germany deal is a drop in the ocean.
136 RUSSIA Country Report January 2023 www.intellinews.com