Ukraine rejects Russia Gazprom gas price hike

[Nemo1024]

Ukraine's pipelines will loose 50% of value when South Stream starts - Naftogaz head
http://rt.com/business/176308-gas-pipeline-ukraine-cheaper/

The South Stream gas pipeline, which bypasses Ukraine, may halve the value of Ukraine’s gas transportation system (GTS), according to Andrey Kobolev the head of Ukraine’s Naftogaz.

After the Russian–led South Stream project is complete and working at full capacity, the value of Ukraine’s GTS may fall as much 50 percent from the present estimate of $25-$35 billion, RIA Novosti quotes the head of the company.

“We have no wish to lose it, and it’s unreasonable," Kobolev said on a Ukrainian local TV channel.

"Unreasonable"? It's called business.

But it illustrates why Biden senior is desperate to stop South Stream so that his son, Biden junior would still profit in Ukraine.

[bryant.coleman]

^^^ I am not sure whether the South Stream project will ever be completed. Bulgaria has denied permission for the pipeline construction, and even if the Bulgarian government later changes their decision, the EU is sure to block it. The EU will not allow the construction of the pipeline, until the rival projects (Trans-Anatolian and TAP) are completed.

[Balthazar]

[Nemo1024]

Lukoil offloads 240 Ukraine gas stations to Austrian buyer
http://rt.com/business/176936-lukoil-sells-ukraine-gas-stations/

Russia’s second-largest oil producer Lukoil will sell 100 percent of its Lukoil-Ukraine CFI operations to Austria’s AMIC Energy Management GmbH (AMIC). The sale follows a blockade and threats by Ukrainian nationalists.

“The sale of the filling-station network and petroleum tank farms in Ukraine to AMIC will help Lukoil optimize its asset structure and distribution-network management system in Eastern Europe, to which we attach great importance seeking to enhance the efficiency of our business in terms of petroleum-product sales," the company’s vice-president, Vadim Vorobyov, said in a press statement on Thursday.

Neo-nazi problem solved. 

[blablahblah]

http://www.euronews.com/business-newswires/2618306-court-orders-russia-to-pay-50-billion-for-seizing-yukos-assets/

[unpure]

So, the current Ukraine conflict has something to do with them refusing to pay the gas price hike?

[Nemo1024]

So, the current Ukraine conflict has something to do with them refusing to pay the gas price hike?

In a way yes, but it's more of a result than a cause. Stubborn refusal to pay is one component. An interesting read here:
http://futuristrendcast.wordpress.com/2014/07/28/predictions-kiev-junta-losses-botched-false-flag-foreign-mercenaries-shale-gas-in-ukraine-goes-puff-how-long-has-the-kiev-junta-left/

[bitsmichel]

So, the current Ukraine conflict has something to do with them refusing to pay the gas price hike?

In a way yes, but it's more of a result than a cause. Stubborn refusal to pay is one component. An interesting read here:
http://futuristrendcast.wordpress.com/2014/07/28/predictions-kiev-junta-losses-botched-false-flag-foreign-mercenaries-shale-gas-in-ukraine-goes-puff-how-long-has-the-kiev-junta-left/

It's related to it, but other than that Poreshenko send the army against its own people.

[blablahblah]

It's related to it, but other than that Poreshenko send the army against its own people.

You sound like a good patriotic Russian. Why are you wasting your time at the keyboard when you could serve your country far better by joining the Russian infantry? Your comrades need you!

[atc1]

The title is a bit misleading,don't you think? Ukraine can't keep paying them less seeing as to how much debt they already own. And Gazprom is State-owned,so obviously the current political situation will have a part to play in the gas prices. There are reports of how Russia has agreed to supply to China so that the losses caused by Eu members shifting away from their gas wont have too much of an impact. But for some counties,even that is not an option as they do not have sources of other fuel.

[Balthazar]

And Gazprom is State-owned

That's not quite right, because "only" 50,002% (50% + 1) of shares are owned by state. However, you are right about preferences for loyal countries such as Turkey and China.

Your comrades need you!

Even members and ruling staff of the Communist Party aren't using this word today. Actually it's amazing to see that now you're closer to stalinism than they are. I think it's a good time, you have the perfect opportunity to get out of your cryo-chamber.

[blablahblah]

The title is a bit misleading,don't you think? Ukraine can't keep paying them less seeing as to how much debt they already own. And Gazprom is State-owned,so obviously the current political situation will have a part to play in the gas prices. There are reports of how Russia has agreed to supply to China so that the losses caused by Eu members shifting away from their gas wont have too much of an impact. But for some counties,even that is not an option as they do not have sources of other fuel.

I looked at the numbers before, and the Russians are just full of shit. When I checked, the debt was just a small fraction of what Ukraine uses annually. And when I say 'debt', I use the term loosely because the whole point of the gas disagreement seems to be that the Russians keep breaching the contract and cutting off the supply, apparently for political bullying purposes.

And it seems to get more complicated because Russia has much bigger, more important customers than Ukraine. E.g.: Germany, China, Japan... Even if it's nothing personal, the Ukraine is still near the bottom of the food chain. Russia probably just wanted an excuse to break some smaller contracts because of the ongoing crisis in Japan and their massive increase in gas requirements after they shut down their reactors.

[deisik]

It's related to it, but other than that Poreshenko send the army against its own people.

You sound like a good patriotic Russian. Why are you wasting your time at the keyboard when you could serve your country far better by joining the Russian infantry? Your comrades need you!

How can you be so sure that one could serve one's country better joining the military? Here's our Waterloo! 

[deisik]

The title is a bit misleading,don't you think? Ukraine can't keep paying them less seeing as to how much debt they already own. And Gazprom is State-owned,so obviously the current political situation will have a part to play in the gas prices. There are reports of how Russia has agreed to supply to China so that the losses caused by Eu members shifting away from their gas wont have too much of an impact. But for some counties,even that is not an option as they do not have sources of other fuel.

I looked at the numbers before, and the Russians are just full of shit. When I checked, the debt was just a small fraction of what Ukraine uses annually. And when I say 'debt', I use the term loosely because the whole point of the gas disagreement seems to be that the Russians keep breaching the contract and cutting off the supply, apparently for political bullying purposes.

And it seems to get more complicated because Russia has much bigger, more important customers than Ukraine. E.g.: Germany, China, Japan... Even if it's nothing personal, the Ukraine is still near the bottom of the food chain. Russia probably just wanted an excuse to break some smaller contracts because of the ongoing crisis in Japan and their massive increase in gas requirements after they shut down their reactors.

Get your facts straight dude. Ukraine is at the beginning of the supply chain. If not for their gas transport system (which is still important even after making the Nord Stream), nobody would care a thing about Ukraine in Gazprom. Regarding contracts, it is Ukraine that signed a contract with Gazprom in 2009, and later refused to fulfill it. Just for your note, it is because of this contract that Timoshenko got in jail...

[bryant.coleman]

So what has happened on the gas front? Is Ukraine still refusing to pay for its gas? Then why the Gazprom is remaining silent? They should have taken Poroshenko to the European courts. IMO,  I believe that Ukraine is having enough gas in its underground reservoirs to last up to this December.

[deisik]

So what has happened on the gas front? Is Ukraine still refusing to pay for its gas? Then why the Gazprom is remaining silent? They should have taken Poroshenko to the European courts. IMO,  I believe that Ukraine is having enough gas in its underground reservoirs to last up to this December.

If I'm not mistaken, Naftogaz (Ukrainian counterpart of Gazprom) filed a lawsuit against Gazprom in Stockholm and expects that by winter it gets an interim ruling...

On June 16, right after the switch to a prepayment system for gas deliveries, Naftogaz filed charges with Stockholm arbitration court to contest the price for natural gas. Specifically, the Ukrainian state-owned company is seeking to recover some $6 billion from Gazprom it claims to have overpaid since 2010

[bryant.coleman]

^^^ Hmmm.... good luck with that. Gazprom wants to recover $5 billion in gas payment from Naftogaz, and at the same time Naftogaz now want a payment of $6 billion in fictional claims from Gazprom.

Anyway... I seriously doubt the neutrality of the European courts, after they granted $50 billion to the criminal Khodorkovsky.

[Balthazar]

Gazprom can continue supply them with gas... Later, when debt will be high enough, drop this debt in exchange for 51-100% of Naftogaz shares.

[blablahblah]

^^^ Hmmm.... good luck with that. Gazprom wants to recover $5 billion in gas payment from Naftogaz, and at the same time Naftogaz now want a payment of $6 billion in fictional claims from Gazprom.

No more "fictional" than the Russian propaganda that that it's a "debt". What court ruled on the matter?

Anyway... I seriously doubt the neutrality of the European courts, after they granted $50 billion to the criminal Khodorkovsky.

Oh I understand now, political opposition is a crime in Russia.
Why should anyone take your "doubts" seriously, when you keep defending Russian stupidity?

[deisik]

^^^ Hmmm.... good luck with that. Gazprom wants to recover $5 billion in gas payment from Naftogaz, and at the same time Naftogaz now want a payment of $6 billion in fictional claims from Gazprom.

No more "fictional" than the Russian propaganda that that it's a "debt". What court ruled on the matter?

Anyway... I seriously doubt the neutrality of the European courts, after they granted $50 billion to the criminal Khodorkovsky.

Oh I understand now, political opposition is a crime in Russia.
Why should anyone take your "doubts" seriously, when you keep defending Russian stupidity?

Khodorkovsky and his accomplices were involved in the murders of their competitors and opponents. For example, the assassination of Nefteyugansk's mayor Vladimir Petukhov by Yukos' chief security official Alexei Pichugin (now serving life sentence) in 1998 (on Khodorkovsky's birthday) and many other men who were posing a serious threat to the organization...