Russia ‘does not’ exploit energy for political ends

A Brussels-based Russian energy diplomat has dismissed the notion that his country uses energy policy as a political tool, writes David Haworth. Speaking at a European Policy Centre (EPC) seminar on the 28-member bloc’s proposed Energy Union (see Petroleum Review, May 2015), which is still in its early stages, Dmitry Semenov, First Secretary of Energy for Russia’s EU Permanent Mission said of Russia’s supposed strong-arm tactics: ‘If it does, I would like to see the results.’ He said the EU’s recent market abuse moves against Gazprom was not unique, and could be compared with the European Commission’s tough attitude towards Google, which is also facing competition law action. 

As for pricing, Russia’s oil and gas charges are much the same as global average prices, he argued.

The diplomat added that Russia’s hunt for alternative gas markets in the east – for instance, the recent gas link deal with China – could help the EU. ‘In due course, Russia may link the EU to China as well as other Asian markets,’ he said.

The seminar heard another EU outsider’s view, from Anders Marvik, Vice President of Corporate Strategy at Norway-based multinational oil and gas company Statoil. He welcomed the fact that energy was a top priority of the new European Commission, as it is ‘the EU’s toughest problem’. ‘The internal energy market has to be completed, not least to make the EU more attractive globally,’ Marvik said.