Brussels, 01/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - The dispute for the past two years between Russian gas giant Gazprom and Lithuania about reforms required by EU rules to the Lithuanian gas market took a new turn on Thursday 1 March as Gazprom announced that it is sending the issue to court.
Gazprom announced that it has lodged an appeal against Lithuania at the United Nations' Commission for International Trade Law to protect Gazprom's interests, it explained in a press release. Gazprom is unhappy with the EU reforms of the energy market, introduced by Lithuania, to ensure ownership unbundling of gas production and distribution by energy companies, which are due to come into force by 2014. Gazprom is the sole supplier of gas in Lithuania, owning 37.1% of the Lithuanian gas company Lietuvos Dujos, alongside Germany's E.ON Ruhrgas (38.9%) and the Lithuanian state (17.7%). Under the EU Gas Directive, Gazprom is required to sell off its share. (EH/transl.fl)