Russia
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Russia dreams no EU gas war, pipelines to Germany, Italy
LAGONISSI, Greece – Moscow hopes to overcome European Commission’s objections to Gazprom’s plans to construct Nord Stream 2 from Russia to Germany and to...
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Trump to OPEC, Russia: Drop Dead or The Big Chillary
The outcome of the US general election this November could affect Washington’s energy policy and relations with Russia. Presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump’s slogan...
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US company boosts East Med’s Israel-Cyprus-Greece-EU pipeline
ATHENS - Plans to build the East-Med pipeline, which could transport up to 16 billion cubic metres from the offshore gas reserves in the...
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Finland nuke plant plans forge ahead with Russian reactor
MOSCOW - Three weeks after visiting the site of the future Hanhikivi 1 nuclear power plant near the remote small municipality of Pyhäjoki in...
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In Athens, Putin puts the full court press on EU
ATHENS – Russian President Vladimir Putin landed with a one-and-a-half hour delay in Greece on Friday, May 27, for a two-day visit aimed to boost...
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Walking the line, Greece backs dueling EU pipelines
ATHENS – Greece continues to view positively plans by DEPA, Edison and Gazprom to revive the IGI Poseidon pipeline to transport Russian gas across...
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Finland chills to Russian gas, will connect to EU
HELSINKI – Russia gas supplies to Finland have never been interrupted and the two countries share close relations but the Scandinavian country is planning to...
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Putin brings his energy game to Athens
ATHENS - Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit Greece on May 28 to boost Moscow’s energy relations with Athens and secure the...
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Gazprom to the Rescue!
Russian gas monopoly Gazprom said full-year profit increased almost five-fold in 2015, which means the government might rely on the state energy giant to...
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Dutch court backs Russia, nixes $50m YUKOS penalty
On 20 April, the District Court of The Hague allowed the challenge brought by Russia to the landmark 2014 arbitral award ordering Russia to...
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Ukraine seeks EU help to remain gas transit corridor
BRUSSELS – Gazprom is spearheading the Nord Stream 2 project, which will double the amount of gas shipped directly to Germany from Russia, in...
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Nord Stream 2: It’s the Ukraine gas transit, stupid
The leaders of Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic have reportedly signed a letter objecting to enlarging the Nord...
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Greece caught in EU’s pipeline spat with Russia
DELPHI, Greece – The Southern Gas Corridor (SGC), which includes the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP), the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and the Interconnector-Greece-Bulgaria (IGB),...
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Discussion over Russian-German pipe turns political
The ongoing discussion about the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline project is political, European Commission Vice President for the Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič...
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Despite low oil prices, Russia makes fresh Arctic bid
Russia has reportedly submitted to the United Nations an updated bid for the extension of the continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean. Russian Minister...
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Russia, Saudi coordinated production cuts unlikely
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on January 28 Saudi Arabia has proposed oil production cuts of up to 5% by each country. “This...
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Russia, Ukraine play gas wars over prices, fines
The long-standing gas conflict between Kiev and Moscow continued on January 22 with the head of Ukraine’s competition authority saying the regulator had decided...
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Gazprom expands market share as prices fall
Russian gas monopoly Gazprom announced better than expected results, reporting a net loss of 2 billion rubles ($26 million) in the three months to...
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Greece, Bulgaria Gas Link To Lessen EU Dependence on Russia
Greece and Bulgaria signed on December 10 a long-delayed final investment agreement (FID) to build a 180-kilometre natural gas pipeline to help Sofia reduce...
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With Washington’s Blessing: Greece Wants To Be Hub For East Med, Caspian Gas
ATHENS – The major gas discoveries in Israel, Cyprus and Egypt have completely changed regional geopolitics and energy supply in the Eastern Mediterranean, Energean...
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John Kerry finally visits Athens. What to Expect
After one postponement last month due to the Syria crisis, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry finally arrives for a short visit in Athens...
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Ex-BOTAŞ CEO: Keep Calm and Supply Turkey With Russian Gas
Gazprom will probably not cut gas supplies to Turkey despite the latter shooting down a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 warplane on November 24, an ex...
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EU Fast-Tracks Tesla, Eastring Gas Lines
The European Commission on November 18 included the Tesla and Eastring gas pipelines in its updated Project of Common Interests (PCIs) list, which will...
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Gazprom, EU Mend Pipeline Talk Break
ATHENS –Gazprom and the European Commission appear to be closer to a compromise as the Russian gas monopoly tries to fend off accusations of...
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Slovakia Wants EU To Block Russia’s Nord Stream 2
BRATISLAVA – Slovakia is against Nord Stream 2 and is appealing to the European Commission and EU Member States to block Moscow’s plans to...
Albania
TANAP Key EU Conduit for Azeri Gas
BAKU – The Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) that will carry gas from Azerbaijan’s massive Shah Deniz 2 field is of strategic nature for Turkey...
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Fearing Russian Gas Cuts, Bulgaria Goes Underground
Bulgaria is expanding an underground gas storage site to guard against any gas supply cuts from Russian gas monopoly Gazprom. The expansion is expected...
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Iran’s Re-emergence Promising For EU Market, Caspian region
ATHENS – The deal Iran reached with world powers over its nuclear programme, which was approved by the Iranian parliament on October 13, is...
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Russia’s Syria Strikes, Slowing Production Boost Oil Prices
Rising geopolitical tensions and signs of slowing output, boosted oil prices last week testing new highs.International oil benchmark Brent crude has rallied by as...
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G20 Ministers Stream Competing EU Pipeline Projects, Fret Over Oil
G20 energy ministers met in Istanbul on October 2, striving for sustainable development amidst low oil prices and climate change negotiations. European Commissioner for...
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Syrian Oil Catalyst to Team US-Russia vs. ISIS
SOCHI – Only if the United States and Russia put their differences aside and work together they can put a curb on ISIS actions...
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Russia’s Nord Stream-2 Pipeline Divides Europe
Building Nord Stream-2, which envisages the construction of two pipelines directly from Russia to Germany, bypassing transit countries including Ukraine and Poland, has divided...
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Falling Oil Prices Force Russia to Shelve Rosneft Projects
Growing pressure on Russian government resources as oil prices slide to six-year lows has prompted Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev to announce that the government...
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Gazprom has gas to burn, but nowhere to turn
Facing tensions in Europe and increased competition in Russia, the country’s gas monopoly Gazprom is struggling to maintain its dominance on the global energy...
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Gazprom Wants EU Anti-Trust Probe Settled
Gazprom is seeking an amicable settlement of the EU antitrust probe against the Russian gas monopoly, Deputy Chairman Alexander Medvedev said on July 23,...
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Russia, Austria, Germany, Plan Ukraine Gas Pipe Bypass
Gazprom and Austria’s OMV discussed on July 8 in Berlin further actions within the Russian gas monopoly’s Nord Stream II gas pipeline project, particularly...
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Finns Say Russian-Supplied Nuke Reactor Adds Energy Independence
BRUSSELS – Finland’s plan to build a nuclear reactor supplied by Russia’s state-owned Rosatom will lessen the Nordic country’s dependence on imported energy supplies, Fennovoima’s Project Director...
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Greece-Bulgaria pipe to break Gazprom monopoly
BRATISLAVA – Implementing an agreement to construct a gas interconnector between Bulgaria and Greece, which is likely to be signed in early July, is important for the energy...
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Gazprom chief says EU, Russia will have to talk Turkish Stream
MOSCOW - The European Union and Russia will have to discuss the Turkish Stream gas pipeline, as well as additional volumes of gas deliveries,...
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Low on coal, high in carbon, Czech Republic sees nuclear answer
MOSCOW – Nuclear energy is important for the Czech Republic’s energy security and reducing CO2 emissions, Deputy Industry Minister Pavel Solc told New Europe....
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Putin pours money into Venezuela oil production
Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro said Caracas and Russia’s sanction-hit Rosneft have agreed on around $14 billion in investment in the South American country’s oil...
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Turkey Wants Kurds’ Energy Hand
Turkey is turning to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to meet its growing demand for energy. Co-operation with Erbil may help Ankara diversify its oil and...
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EU Commission, Gazprom Square Off
There is little love lost between Russia and the EU these days. Tension has already been heightened by disagreements over Syria, with Moscow warning...
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Gazprom, SOCAR for Greece’s DEPA, DESFA
ATHENS - Following Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’ visit to Baku on 19 May and Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller’s visit to Athens on 21...
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Greece irons out ‘technical details’ of DEPA sale
The privatisation tender for Greek Public Gas Corporation DEPA and gas network operator DESFA has been postponed “for technical reasons” and will be held...
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Gazprom snubs EU-Ukraine gas talks
On 3 May, EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger and Ukraine’s Energy and Coal Industry Minister Eduard Stavytsky led a two-day international high-level roundtable to...
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