This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.

Gazprom Says Kiev Should Blame Warsaw For Gas Supply Cut

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Submitted by Andy Tully via OilPrice.com,

No one disputes that the amount of Russian gas being piped through Ukraine has been cut by at least 20 percent. But who’s responsible?

Poland said Sept. 10 that the amount of gas coming from the Kremlin-run gas monopoly Gazprom was down by at least one-fifth, feeding a growing suspicion in much of Europe that Moscow is using energy as leverage in its continuing dispute with the West over its actions in Ukraine.

Poland’s state-controlled gas company PGNiG says gas deliveries from Gazprom through Ukraine and neighboring Belarus were down by 20 percent on Sept. 8 and by 24 percent on Sept. 9. It says it’s investigating the shortfall.

Meanwhile, Ukrtranzgaz, Ukraine’s pipeline monopoly, said Gazprom was reducing shipments to Poland to prevent “reverse flows” of gas, where Warsaw diverts 4 million cubic meters of gas daily headed for Western Europe southward to serve Ukrainian homes and businesses.

Uktransgaz CEO Igor Prokopiv said Russia is trying to “derail” this reverse-flow agreement. Ukraine is getting no gas directly from Russia in a dispute over outstanding debt for previous gas deliveries.

Gazprom says its flow of gas hasn’t changed and that if there is a reduction, it’s Poland’s fault, not Russia’s.

“Reports by news agencies on the reduction of volumes of gas supplies by Gazprom to Poland’s PGNiG are incorrect,” Gazprom spokesman Sergey Kupriyanov said, according to RT, quoting Itar-Tass. “The same volume of gas as in previous days – 23 million cubic meters a day – is being supplied to Poland now.”

No matter who is responsible for the reduction in the flow of gas, the consequences of the dispute go far beyond Poland and Ukraine. EU nations get one-third of their gas supplies from Russia, and half of that amount flows through Ukraine. Similar disputes led to interruptions in the supply of gas to Europe twice before, in 2006 and 2009.

Nevertheless, there was no evidence that the current shortage was affecting any Western European customers. Slovakia, a major transit point for Russia gas exports to Europe, said volumes had not changed, and operators in Hungary, Bosnia and Serbia said the same.

And in Austria, a spokesman for the energy company OMV told Reuters, “The supply situation in Austria is normal. Deliveries from our Russian partner come within the range of normal fluctuations.”

 

- advertisements -

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Mon, 09/15/2014 - 14:30 | 5219383 knukles
knukles's picture

Who's on first?
Barry & Cie. must be starting to cry about now

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 14:41 | 5219425 Bunghole
Bunghole's picture

Q.  What does Michelle Obama do after she shaves her pussy?

A.   She straightens his tie and sends him off to work.

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 15:26 | 5219608 The9thDoctor
The9thDoctor's picture

Russia will turn the gas back on, when Billy Bob can order his Saiga and VEPR on Atlanticfirearms . com for a reasonable price.

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 18:43 | 5220316 Majestic12
Majestic12's picture

"when Billy Bob can order his Saiga...reasonable price"

It'll never happen...

Remember, "Atlantic" Arms....like North "Atlantic" Treaty Organization.....

Its just like the late 70's/early eighties with cars....Honda Accords show up...run forever and handle great...

Suddenly, GM prices "match" European imports overnight....and nobody blinks an eye...as if the quality were the same....

But then again, the GM Radio knobs went to "11"....

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 18:53 | 5220338 Majestic12
Majestic12's picture

"Q.  What does Michelle Obama do after she shaves her pussy?"

Doesn't she have to actually "have" one in order to shave it?

Note the "gender-bender" wave is dramatically increasing, primarily involves rich, famous, financial and political figures in the backdrop of their Roman slave medium...Hollywood ...

Ancient Rome has never looked so "young"....

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 18:51 | 5220346 Majestic12
Majestic12's picture

"Q.  What does Michelle Obama do after she shaves her pussy?"

Doesn't she have to actually "have" one in order to shave it?

Note the "gender-bender" wave is dramatically increasing, primarily involves rich, famous, financial and political figures in the backdrop of their Roman slave medium...Hollywood ...

Ancient Rome has never looked so "young"....

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 17:45 | 5220105 MarsInScorpio
MarsInScorpio's picture

knukles - think about making your small type a bit bigger - elderly eyes want to know . . .

-30-

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 14:30 | 5219384 Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

You have to look west to see who's responsible. Had the U.S never helped overthrow the Ukraine government we wouldn't be having this discussion. 

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 14:30 | 5219389 knukles
knukles's picture

Damn pipelines!

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 17:09 | 5219992 SDShack
SDShack's picture

And Kiev thinks the EU is going to take on Putin when it comes to NatGas, but in the other ZH article, the EU is buying ISIS oil - LOL! It's rapidly becoming every oligarch for himself, and Kiev is going to find out real quick they ain't in the club!

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 19:01 | 5220381 Majestic12
Majestic12's picture

"You have to look west"

Exactly!  And Poland is NATO (US right hand)...cutting off the gas and blaming Russia....surprise...

NATO wants "anything" to call a Russian "violation" so they can squash Donetsk and Luhansk with NATO troops...

...then, "install" Missle systems for a closer shot....

In the backdrop...the Fed wrings the US Flag a little harder...killing economic activity...and behold!

Oil prices fall....Oil...the biggest Russian revenue-generating commodity which they depend on....

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 14:31 | 5219392 F0ster
F0ster's picture

Russia should keep the gas flowing to Europe but demand payment in gold or a gold backed trade note of some kind.

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 14:35 | 5219402 Fuku Ben
Fuku Ben's picture

The leadership of the Polish government might not want to fly for a while

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 15:10 | 5219535 Phuk u
Phuk u's picture

Funny Ben, a lot of the last Polish lot got permenantly lost in the fog

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 16:04 | 5219790 Poundsand
Poundsand's picture

At least not to or over Russia!  Those last guys who survived the crash, some how seemed to land on their weapons accidentally discharging them into their heads.  What are the chances?

Oh, and what was Nato's response?  Cue crickets....

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 14:37 | 5219409 MrTerry
MrTerry's picture

Mail Online is now reporting this . Today     it seems they cut the gas by 2/3 rds and now europe will freeze.      http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1106382/Europe-plunged-energy-cr...

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 15:12 | 5219541 Phuk u
Phuk u's picture

Europe will freeze and Russia will have a cash-flow problem. Spring is only

eight months away.

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 15:22 | 5219567 basho
basho's picture

something wierd here. reported temps  as -0° not true in EU

no mention of this on any RU news source.

is this BS?

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 15:26 | 5219617 tonyw
tonyw's picture

this article is years old, not from today.

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 16:00 | 5219769 Bankster Kibble
Bankster Kibble's picture

The web page says today's date but the pictures are from several years ago.  Is this a recycled article from 2009?

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 14:38 | 5219410 Atomizer
Atomizer's picture

Pipe siphoning Oil gremlins. 

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 14:43 | 5219431 Al Huxley
Al Huxley's picture

Jesus, what the fuck is wrong with these Russians?  Don't they understand how critical it is for Europe to continue to receive a reliable flow of energy from Russia if they're to maintain their fortitude with regard to the sanctions they've established against Russia?  You'd think this would be obvious and that they'd have a little more consideration for the pressures the EU and US elite are under right now - there's a lot Russia could do to help out the EU and the US, I don't know why they're being so obtuse and uncooperative.

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 14:46 | 5219449 _ConanTheLibert...
_ConanTheLibertarian_'s picture

Interesting picture. Usually gas from your water tap is in the United Fracked States of America only.

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 14:57 | 5219493 basho
basho's picture

lol between the poles and the ukies the 1st liar doesn't have a chance.

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 14:58 | 5219495 carlnpa
carlnpa's picture

Lets see here.

New US/EU sanctions imposed friday.

Ukraine stealing Gazprom gas and no payments for previously delivered product.

Gas deliveries cut back with no fanfare and no sabre rattling.

 

It must be hard to act suprised.

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 14:59 | 5219496 SmittyinLA
SmittyinLA's picture

Damn Asymmetrical response, who would have figured Russians would act in their own interests, what pricks!

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 15:18 | 5219575 john milton
john milton's picture

who will literally get cold feet first will bent over

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 15:24 | 5219603 dbystrowski
dbystrowski's picture

How can the flow of gas be controlled in Poland if the gas flow goes east to west and Ukraine is in between Russia and Poland.  

Poland should have developed their own gas supply from Fracking fields and allow that Norwegian pipeline being built back in 2011.

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 16:13 | 5219825 HenryHall
HenryHall's picture

dbystrowski> Poland should have developed their own gas supply from Fracking fields and allow that Norwegian pipeline being built back in 2011.

In a nutshell - American fracking technology does not work on polish geology and Norway has no extra gas to spare.

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 16:38 | 5219911 dbystrowski
dbystrowski's picture

Or it just does not work and this whole fracking revolution is exaggerated as the war on terror.

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 17:22 | 5220038 JohninMK
JohninMK's picture

It certainly doesn't pay for some in the US. This is a good thread from a brilliant site.

http://srsroccoreport.com/condition-red-fracking-is-destroying-oil-gas-c...

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 20:20 | 5220655 bid the soldier...
bid the soldiers shoot's picture

Of course, this fracking thing is exaggerated.  

The government has lied about almost everything since WMD. 

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-oil-20140521-story.html

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 15:36 | 5219644 Totentänzerlied
Totentänzerlied's picture

Someone on here mentioned a few months ago that Russia only need cut exports by a few percentage points before the economic pain of European importers outweighs any (largely imaginary) European loyalty, winter or no winter.

At the same time, former Soviet-bloc Europeans will be much more willing to dress in layers, burn firewood, and tighten their belts* than many seem to realize.

*Not because they're tough peasants or some other asinine racism, but because they simply and powerfully loathe Russia.

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 16:00 | 5219775 MrTerry
Mon, 09/15/2014 - 16:28 | 5219881 HenryHall
HenryHall's picture

MrTerry >Here is the link 2/3 rds of gas was cut off

 

The same aricle says " ... pushed oil up to a three-week high of $49.91 in New York yesterday.".

Do you believe that fairy tale also?!

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 16:24 | 5219867 Dragon HAwk
Dragon HAwk's picture

Never Ever call the Ambulance driver a  N+GG+R............

 

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 16:24 | 5219869 Yakhont
Yakhont's picture

Russia should demand payment for gas to Europe in Roubles...far more effective retaliation than cutting off gas. It will drive a long term wedge between the US and Europe while blunting the effect of western dollar/Euro denominated sanctions.

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 18:21 | 5220239 Setarcos
Setarcos's picture

Germany is a special case, because it is supplied directly via the North Stream instead of via the Ukraine.

 

Oops, this was meant for another comment.

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 16:47 | 5219945 theyjustcantstop
theyjustcantstop's picture

wasn't it just a week ago everyone had stockpiled enough gas to survive the winter without russian gas?

whats german factories going to do if there's not enough gas, and their supply is diverted to households?

whats the non-eu cb's going to do, have a moment of silence in solidarity?

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 16:59 | 5219964 MKD
MKD's picture

I seriously do not understand this.russia has gas = europe needs gas.europe puts sanctions on russia but russia still supplies gas to them.russia should stop gas to europe until they lift the sanctions and get back to normal.they want to cripple russia but russia still gives them gas.russia should give zero gas to poland until it shuts the fuck up and minds its own business.i live 15000 kilometres away from poland and that country shits me.

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 17:22 | 5220039 SDShack
SDShack's picture

Because Russia has a contract to supply a certain amount of gas to Europe, and they will not break that contract. To do so undercuts the entire Russian strategy a being a reliable energy supplier. If Russia cuts off the West in violation of contract, then that just gives the West the ulitmate excuse to invade Ukraine to "ensure" the current flow of energy, and Syria to "ensure" the future flow of energy so Russia can't do it again in the future. Russia will just cut the flow that Ukraine is supposed to pay for, but is not. The fact that Ukraine is "stealing" their share (thus reducing the flow to Poland) isn't Russia's problem... it's Warsaw's. Poland should be forcing Ukraine to stop stealing gas they aren't paying for. It's like a river with a dam owned by a utility to supply you water in the dry season. You live downstream, and your neighbor lives upstream, and you both need the same amount of water. Your neighbor doesn't pay, so the utility reduces the flow through the dam by 1/2. But your upstream neighbor keeps taking the same amount of water, so you are left dry. The problem isn't with the dam owner, it's your neighbor. The bottom line is you have to pay for what you use whether you are upstream or downstream.

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 19:58 | 5220439 bid the soldier...
bid the soldiers shoot's picture

The fact that Ukraine is "stealing" their share (thus reducing the flow to Poland) isn't Russia's problem... it's Warsaw's. 

If Ukraine isn't paying for it (Russia demands prepayment from Ukraine) and Poland is paying for100% but only receiving 80% after letting Ukraine have 20% on credit, then Ukraine is not prepaying and prepayment is what Moscow expects.  Ukraine will get it's gas this winter, but it will be prepaid. Whether by Poland, EU, or Barraso's mother-in-law. 


Does the contract Russia has with the EU countries, permit the resale or export of Russian gas ?   Russia would not want a country with a lower price for its gas, to sell it to a country with a higher price.

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 17:39 | 5220080 JohninMK
JohninMK's picture

They have a bit of the 'least popular member in the gang' about them combined with a 'stop him he's going to hit me' whine.

They thought that leaving the USSR and being part of the EU and NATO would see them to the sunny uplands.

Trouble is on the one hand 'freedom of movement' led to a million Pole brain drain, a million more in/out and lots of unemployed whilst we all know on here what opening up your market to Western bankers means don't we? Yup financial rape and job slashing. A huge amount of the economy is now foreign owned, exploiting the natives.

A nasty surprise was the realisation that there is a two speed NATO, those where Clause 5 applies in minutes and the rest where it would be days or weeks before any meaningful help came. Guess which Poland is in? No wonder they are desperate for a permanent NATO base there.

The trouble is that no-one in NATO seems to have woken up to the fact that they could save even more money by cutting defence spending as there is no possibility of Russia striking west. Europe is the past, the rest of the world is where their future lies and the US/EU is forcing them down that path. Utter madness.

The CEO of Rosneft put it well in a recent interview.

Europe is advantageously positioned compared with other regions to take advantage of its geographical proximity to Russia to benefit from cheaper imports of hydrocarbons and shorter lead times for export of hydrocarbon exploration, production and infrastructure equipment, and services to the oil industry generally.

It's natural to want to use any advantages you have, but there is no obligation. Europe is perfectly free to compete with Asia on a more equal basis. If Germany does not wish to sell us large gas turbines then Rosneft will buy them from South Korea or China and pay for the higher shipping costs and put up with the longer lead times. If that means some projects are delayed then we will live with that too.

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 20:47 | 5220742 talisman
talisman's picture

wait until January

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 17:16 | 5220019 NoWayJose
NoWayJose's picture

"feeding a growing suspicion in much of Europe that Moscow is using energy as leverage in its continuing dispute with the West over its actions in Ukraine."

Uh, hey EU leaders -- let me 'Confirm' that for you, and I really hope that I don't have to or things are worse in the EU than I thought.

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 17:59 | 5220156 jacship
jacship's picture

warSAW

WARNING

Ee-Uu-Smell a gas leak

boomerang *itches

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!