Russia’s gas plans still mired in politics
The Kremlin will be focused on pipeline negotiations with the EU and the sanctions threats from Washington
The critical issues facing Russian gas exports in 2019 revolved around its pipelines to Europe and the renegotiation of a transit contract through Ukraine, which was agreed at the end of December. Rules determining use of the Opal (Ostsee-Pipeline-Anbindungsleitung) pipeline, the status of Turk Stream and the approval of Nord Stream 2 were also important. All these issues will continue to grind on into 2020. Ukraine transit negotiations were resolved at the end of December, ensuring the transit of Russian gas through pipelines on Ukrainian territory for the next five years. Attempts to diversify away from Europe via LNG and pipelines to the east are also underway, while Gazprom’s pricing str
Also in this section
19 March 2026
The regional crisis highlights the undervalued role of fixed pipelines in the age of tanker flexibility
18 March 2026
Rising LNG exports and AI-driven power demand have raised concerns that US gas prices could climb sharply, but analysts say abundant shale supply and continued productivity gains should keep Henry Hub within a range that preserves the competitiveness of US LNG
18 March 2026
Risks of shortages in oil products may cause world leaders to panic and make mistakes instead of letting the market do what it does best
17 March 2026
The crisis in the Middle East has put LNG’s ability to offer security and flexibility under uncomfortable scrutiny
