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UPDATED 1 Sept: The EI library in London is temporarily closed to the public, as a precautionary measure in light of the ongoing COVID-19 situation. The Knowledge Service will still be answering email queries via email , or via live chats during working hours (09:15-17:00 GMT). Our e-library is always open for members here: eLibrary , for full-text access to over 200 e-books and millions of articles. Thank you for your patience.
Slovakia fumes as majors strike Nord Stream deal
The Slovak government has branded as a betrayal the signing of a deal by European energy majors with Gazprom to expand the Nord Stream pipeline from Russia to Germany, writes Keith Nuthall.
Gazprom, E.ON, BASF/Wintershall, OMV, ENGIE and Shell have formed a consortium that plan to double the capacity of the current Nord Stream 1 and 2 lines. It is proposed to build a third and fourth pipeline to transport up to an additional 55bn cm/y of gas for an estimated cost of €9.9bn.
Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico has attacked the move – his country established a reverse flow interconnector with Ukraine, aiming to integrate its neighbour into the European Union (EU) gas market and underline the EU’s commitment to sourcing Russian gas through Ukraine. In a joint press conference with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk, he said: ‘For months, there have [been] talks at the European Council about the need to help Ukraine stay a gas transit country, to help it through difficult winter months. Suddenly an announcement came from Gazprom signing a contact with companies from western EU member states about building another branch of Nord Stream. They are making
idiots of us.’
Gazprom was understandably happy. Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee Alexey Miller said: ‘The fact that the global energy majors participate in the project bespeaks its significance for securing reliable gas supply to European consumers.’
The announcement comes as the European Investment Bank unveiled a €2bn plan to finance and construct the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), the western part of the planned Southern Gas Corridor from the Greek/Turkish border to Italy through Albania. The project is part of the European Commission’s list of 33 priority energy security ‘projects of common interest’. Environmental impact assessments have been completed and permits issued in Albania and Greece (some Greek permits are outstanding). Italy issued final approval in May.
