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  • #46
    Russia today started filling the first of the two Nordstream pipelines. Operating pressure is expected to be achieved by October, official start of regular operations in November. The project picked up quite some speed over the past couple months, mostly to beat Nabucco.

    The event today was celebrated with Putin and Schröder in attendance (the two politicians who launched the project), the opening in November on the German side will be attended by Medvedev and Merkel (the two politicians who have succeeded them).

    Ukraine has already started whining about it again.

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    • #47
      Putin opens Nord Stream Baltic gas pipeline to Germany

      6 September 2011 Last updated at 10:15 ET
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      BBC News - Putin opens Nord Stream Baltic gas pipeline to Germany

      Putin opens Nord Stream Baltic gas pipeline to Germany
      Journalists watch as Vladimir Putin (left) launches the Nord Stream pipeline in Vyborg, Russia, 6 September Journalists watched as Vladimir Putin (left) launched the pipeline

      Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has pressed the start button to open a pipeline carrying natural gas directly to Germany under the Baltic Sea.

      He said the Nord Stream pipeline would reduce Russia's dependence on Ukrainian pipelines, which were shut during gas disputes between Moscow and Kiev.

      "Technical gas", needed to build up pressure, was released on Tuesday.

      It is expected German consumers will begin receiving Russian gas through the new pipeline in a few weeks.

      The official launch of Nord Stream will be marked with a visit by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to Germany in November.

      Nord Stream, a twin pipeline, was built at a cost of $12.5bn (£7.7bn; 8.8bn euros) and is 1,224km (761 miles) long, running from Vyborg in north-west Russia to Sassnitz in north-east Germany.

      It should be able to move 55bn cu m of gas a year by 2013, after the completion of the second pipeline.
      'Civilised relations'

      Mr Putin, visiting Vyborg, said Ukraine had been "taking advantage", and that relations between the two countries would now become "more civilised".

      At present, 80% of Russia's gas exports to the EU flow through pipelines across Ukrainian soil.

      Apart from Nord Stream, Russia has been planning another pipeline, South Stream, which will run from southern Russia to Bulgaria under the Black Sea.

      The project is expected to pipe 63bn cu m of gas to central and southern Europe annually.

      In another project to pipe ex-Soviet gas westwards, Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Austria have agreed to construct a 3,900km pipeline called Nabucco.

      It is expected to pump up to 31bn cubic metres of gas annually from the Caspian and the Middle East across Turkey and into Europe.
      “the misery of being exploited by capitalists is nothing compared to the misery of not being exploited at all” -- Joan Robinson

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      • #48
        For "more civilised" Russian/Ukrainian relations read 'easier for Putin to order about'. Both North Stream and South Stream aim at maintaining the reliance of Europe on Russian gas, hence why many have argued Nabucco is a wiser longer term option (as it avoids Russia).

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        • #49
          Possibly merge that post over to this one: http://www.worldaffairsboard.com/nav...tml#post829062

          As for Ukraine - come on, they've proved to be a pest regarding our gas supply in Europe. Taking them out of the supply line is nothing but positive.

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          • #50
            threads merged

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            • #51
              Originally posted by kato View Post
              Possibly merge that post over to this one: http://www.worldaffairsboard.com/nav...tml#post829062

              As for Ukraine - come on, they've proved to be a pest regarding our gas supply in Europe. Taking them out of the supply line is nothing but positive.
              Get Russia out of the equation and you get the gas for free
              No such thing as a good tax - Churchill

              To make mistakes is human. To blame someone else for your mistake, is strategic.

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              • #52
                Originally posted by Doktor View Post
                Get Russia out of the equation and you get the gas for free
                Actually, it's German companies that are providing us with the gas. Gazprom's supplies for Germany currently effectively entirely come from the Yuzhno-Russkoye field, which is operated by Severneftegazprom (shares: 40% Gazprom, 35% Wintershall and 25% E.ON Ruhrgas). Yuzhno-Russkoye will remain the main supply for Nordstream for the next two decades, the rest will probably come from the Achimov-Urengoy field operated by Achimgaz, a joint venture (shares: 50% Gazprom and 50% Wintershall). Both fields were specifically developed over the last 3 years with an eye to Nordstream.

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                • #53
                  Ukraine simply had to have large discounts or steal gas to survive, energy efficiency in steel furnace plants and other facilities aren't up to par with Germany or any other European country. I understand their position but this basically eviscerates their economy because the amount they can steal is limited.

                  Also breaks for transit also become limited as it dwindles. The whole Nord-Stream project is a lever for direct export that solves several problems.

                  1) Ukraine has to negotiate on transit *realistically* ergo either the gas stops dissapearing or the continued circumvention of it will leave it deprived and eventual punitive pricing for past "shortages".
                  2) Both Beltransgas and Naftogas (Belarussian and Ukranian gas transport systems are in play) since there is leverage via continued circumvention of transports. Also both companies are cheaper since they are no longer monopolistic transitways.
                  3) Belarussia also has to negotiate more on concessions in regards to synchronisity of various trade and energy cooperation plans
                  4) The second pipe of the project comes online in a year to double throughput which puts even more pressure on both to play ball. In addition the talk of South-Stream gains credibility and pressure on both price of transit, of company, and cooperation.

                  This has less to do with geopolitics and more to do with pricing power and getting more net profit from deliveries instead of supplying one amount and having a risk adjusted return based on third party participation in some way.

                  Geopolitics do play a role and lessen the leverage of all other participants more monetarily rather than politically. Ergo Poland/Lithuania/Est/Lat to a degree but if you think about whos products are piped and sold, why shouldn't Russia try to get the most profit for its product via circumvention of third party wholesalers? in essence.
                  Originally from Sochi, Russia.

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                  • #54
                    Originally posted by cyppok View Post
                    In addition the talk of South-Stream gains credibility and pressure on both price of transit, of company, and cooperation.
                    Southstream is pretty much guaranteed now. Due to all new investment and expansion in Libya being iced Wintershall and EDF bought into Southstream by taking over shares from ENI. Official sign-on was in September, although this had already been prepared since about April.

                    Both Wintershall and EDF had to secure their investment in Libya first before that (through financial guarantees from the German and French governments and through having PMCs train up local militias to guard the installations against the rebels).

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                    • #55
                      Originally posted by kato View Post
                      Southstream is pretty much guaranteed now. Due to all new investment and expansion in Libya being iced Wintershall and EDF bought into Southstream by taking over shares from ENI. Official sign-on was in September, although this had already been prepared since about April.

                      Both Wintershall and EDF had to secure their investment in Libya first before that (through financial guarantees from the German and French governments and through having PMCs train up local militias to guard the installations against the rebels).
                      There is a chance for Russia to buy the Ukrainian gas transport system actually. (lets say it is a low chance but its there after Nord-Stream)
                      Originally from Sochi, Russia.

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