Упрощенная HTML-версия
Электронное приложение к журналу «
Международная жизнь
»
Author : E. Kasayev
Chief Specialist at the Russian Gas Society, Member of the Expert Council of the Russian Union of
Oil and Gas Producers, Candidate of Science (Economics)
LATELY, experts are discussing with increased in-
terest whether the globalization of hydrocarbon
trade, competition between Europe and the Asia-Pa-
cific, and the Western political and economic sanc-
tions against Russia affect the latter's competitiveness
in international natural gas business.
On top of this, there are the European Commis-
sion's attacks on Gazprom, the uncertain future of
the Turkish Stream gas pipeline project, the Euro-
pean Union's Third Energy Package, the planned European Energy Union, Russian attempts
to become firmly established in the Chinese gas market, and Russian plans to reduce gas imports
from Central Asia and Azerbaijan.
First of all, Gazprom is accused of unfair pricing. The Commission says that there are differ-
ences of up to 40% between prices Gazprom charges in some of the countries and those it
charges in others. Secondly, Gazprom undermines European markets by supposedly reselling
gas and thereby blocking free competition.
TODAY, Russia holds relatively weak positions in the Asian gas market, unlike its foothold in
the European market, and so it needs to set a long-term task of building up exports to the Asia-
Pacific.
Our country still holds strong positions in Europe despite the political machinations of the Eu-
ropean Commission, which are often instigated by the White House.
Asian projects can bear fruit only in a relatively distant future. So far. Russia's stock went up
when it signed a major gas contract with China.
On the whole, Russia has a serious competitive edge in regional gas markets as it possesses large
reserves of gas that it is willing to sell at fair prices and via transparent mechanisms.
However, Russian advantages are seriously diminished by various risks, among which legal and
logistic hazards are the most prominent.
Russia's Problems in European and Asian Natural Gas Markets