Estonia likely immune to Gazprom Germany pipeline maintenance tactics

Tallinn, August 10 - Neftegaz.RU. While gas prices in Estonia will rise substantially in the autumn, the country is not likely to be affected by maintenance work being carried out by Gazprom, to its pipelines serving Germany and other European nations.

Ain Köster, spokesperson for network operator Elering told ERR that the issue will not affect Estonia, since the country's gas needs are met via storage facilities in Latvia, as well as a LNG terminal in Lithuania.
Köster said:

• We have used an LNG terminal in the Baltic States, in Lithuania, for several years
• Gas can also be brought in via this terminal, and this is happens
• The usual preparations for higher winter consumption volumes are going ahead in Latvia, Köster went on, while the LNG terminal in Lithuania can supply all three Baltic States where needed
• I don't think we have much cause for concern

As to the German situation, Andrei Belyi,adjunct professor at the University of Eastern Finland, in Kupio, told ERR that the supply shortage may be an intentional strategy on the part of Gazprom, ahead of Nord Stream 2 pipeline going on-line.
Belyi said:

• It is no secret that Gazprom, and German companies, have been issuing warnings that seasonal maintenance is on its way
• They are suggesting that another pipeline is always useful
• The question that observers have been asking is why the Yamal-Europe and Nord Stream 1 pipelines are both being serviced at the same time
• This seems questionable, given the difficulties facing gas supply in Europe

Gazprom has been carrying out maintenance work on several of its pipelines in Western Europe, while supply has been maintained via stored gas in Austria, as well as in Germany.

Latvia's natural gas storage facilities have been in used for decades, and capacity considerably outstrips demand, ERR reports.

Market leader Eesti Gaas announced last month that prices to consumer would climb by an average of 50% at the beginning of September and, while the market has been liberalized and several other suppliers are available to switch to, the main reason given for the hike was record prices on the world market.