Kiev, July 2 - Neftegaz.RU. Gazprom did not book additional capacity via Ukraine at this week’s monthly auction, which will effectively mean that supplies to Europe would be reduced by 2 billion m3 in July, Upstream quoted Gazprom as saying.
The Russian gas monopoly will also shut for maintenance the Yamal-Europe pipeline carrying gas from Russia through Belarus and Poland to Germany between July 6 and 10. Gazprom will also halt deliveries via Nord Stream between July 13 and 22.
Despite the maintenance on the northern pipeline routes to Europe, Gazprom hasn’t taken extra capacity offered in Ukraine.
Analysts say that this could be an opportunistic move from the Russian giant to drive up Europe’s gas prices further and take advantage of what are now the highest prices in 13 years.
Other analysts think that Gazprom’s effective reduction in supplies would be to force Europe to recognize that gas customers on the continent need the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline to Germany bypassing Ukraine.
Tom Marzec-Manser, lead European gas analyst at ICIS, told the Financial Times last week:
- Gazprom is effectively saying to the EU: ‘give us the green light for Nord Stream 2 and we will send you all the gas you need
Sergiy Makogon, CEO of Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine, told FT:
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The Russian gas giant is looking to push European gas prices even higher by deliberately withholding supply
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The recent jump in prices is an artificially created problem
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Europe should not follow this blackmail of Gazprom with prices
