Brussels, 15/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - European Energy Union Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said after his meeting with Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak and Chief Executive of Russian gas group Gazprom Alexei Miller in Moscow on Wednesday 14 January that he was “surprised” by Russian plans now to re-route to Turkey the Russian gas for the EU that currently passes through Ukraine. “The idea that Gazprom would ship 50-60 billion cubic metres of gas to Turkey and then the European Union will decide what to do with it from there, I don't think would work. Trading works in a different way, and it could jeopardise Gazprom's reputation as a reliable supplier to Europe,” commented Sefcovic, giving assurances that he saw in this proposal the opening salvo of the debate and that the two parties were planning further discussions. “First we need to analyse how much gas Turkey and countries of Southern and Central Europe will need. But the question arises what should the countries of Central Europe then do. We need to look, maybe we can find a better solution, a more economically justified one”, he added.
On Wednesday, the Russians confirmed to Sefcovic that the South Stream gas pipeline project was being cancelled and suggested that henceforth the EU should find a way to have its supplies delivered from Turkey, with which Russia is to build a new pipeline, linking the two countries under the Black Sea. “The Turkish Stream is the only route to deliver the 63 billion cubic metres of Russian gas currently transiting through Ukraine. There are no other options”, warned Miller, indicating that it was now up to the European partners very quickly to put in place the infrastructure needed from the Turkish-Greek border or risk seeing gas supplied by Gazprom going to other countries.
Novak, however, has announced the resumption of the EU-Russia energy dialogue within a month. Sefcovic announced that a discussion among EU foreign ministers on cooperation with Russia in the energy sector would take place on 19 January. The commissioner has invited Russia to join the working group formed by the Commission and the member states from Central and South-Eastern Europe which were stakeholders in the South Stream project, one of the goals of which is to determine sure means of supply of Russian gas to the EU, he said. (EH)