Russia Ukraine and EU agree gas supply deal (Günther H. Oettinger /EC)

From the Official Website of the European Commission, Press release, Brussels, 30 October 2014:

"After seven rounds of gas negotiations, last night's talks moderated by Günther H. Oettinger, Vice-President of the European Commission, yielded finally a breakthrough: A 4,6 billion dollar winter package, agreed by Russia and Ukraine, secures gas for Ukraine - and ultimately also for Europe.

EU energy commissioner, Ukraine energy minister discuss forthcoming tripartite gas talks

European energy commissioner Guenther Oettinger and Ukraine’s Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Yuri Prodan had a telephone conversation on Monday to discuss aspects of the forthcoming tripartite gas talks due in Brussels on October 29, a spokesman for the European Commission told TASS.

According to TASS information, the sides discussed issues of financial guarantees to Ukraine to pay for Russian gas supplies in November-December 2014.

Russia submits draft gas agreement to EU, Ukraine

Russia has submitted a draft trilateral protocol agreement to solve gas dispute to the EU and Ukraine, Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters Friday.

“I gave the draft trilateral protocol agreement to our partners in Ukraine and the EU on October 21, it is under their consideration,” Novak said. “I do not have the information on what proposals our partners in negotiations are discussing. They have promised to speak them out at trilateral consultations on October 29,” Novak said.

Gas talks: Negotiations to be continued next week

From the Official Website of the European Commission, Statement, Brussels, 21 October 2014:

"At today's gas talks in Brussels, Vice-President Günther H. Oettinger, built on his Berlin proposals and presented ways to secure gas supplies to Europe and the Ukraine during the winter season.

Next Trilateral Talks Over Gas to Take Place Between Russia, Ukraine, EC in October. ("Sometimes it happens that what is understood orally is interpreted in writing somewhat differently...")

The next trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission over the standing issues surrounding gas will take place on October 2 or 3, Aleksander Novak, Russia's Minister of Energy, stated.

"First, we are currently drawing up the proposals that were presented to all the parties for uniform understanding. Sometimes it happens that what is understood orally is interpreted in writing somewhat differently. This will be done in the next few days. The Ukrainian side, the Russian side and the European Commission will each receive it [the written agreement]. We have agreed that we will meet to discuss the final package either Thursday or Friday next week,"- Novak said in an interview with the TV channel Russia-24.

Gas talks: Oettinger proposed supply agreement for coming winter

European Commission, Statement, Berlin, 26 September 2014:

At today's gas talks in Berlin, Vice-President Guenther Oettinger proposed a new compromise to secure gas supplies to Europe and the Ukraine during the winter season.

Vice-President Guenther Oettinger said:

"This could be a fair deal for both sides to break the deadlock and ensure that gas supply to Ukraine and EU is assured for the coming winter."

The proposal envisages the following comittments:

Russia, Ukraine reach interim deal on gas dispute

European Union (EU) Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said Friday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed in principle on an interim deal over gas supplies and would meet next week to decide on final details.

The EU, Ukraine and Russia held a trilateral mainisterial meeting on energy security in Berlin on Friday.

The three sides were represented by Oettinger, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak and Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan respectively. Representatives of Russian and Ukrainian gas companies also attended the meeting.

Oettinger on energy security: “Gas can be used as a weapon and no longer be delivered" (EP -25.09.14)

Europe should ensure people and companies enjoy a secure supply of energy and this includes measures based on solidarity, said energy commissioner Günther Oettinger addressing the EP's energy committee on 24 September. In his last appearance as energy commissioner at the Parliament, Oettinger looked back at his tenure over the last five years and discussed future challenges regarding the EU's energy policy, including the continuing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Kiev Again Rejects Russia’s Gas Discount Compromise Offer (Ukraine Energy Minister)

KIEV, August 29 (RIA Novosti) – Ukraine still refuses to negotiate Russia’s proposed discount of $100 per 1,000 billion cubic meters of gas, Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan said Friday.

“We were again suggested the price of $385 [per 1,000 billion cubic meters] with a $100 discount because of export duty cancellation. The Russian side thinks that the price of $485 is fair. We think that this price is discriminatory,” he said.

Prodan also dismissed as “baseless” Russia’s concerns that Ukraine will tap Europe-bound transit gas from its pipeline network amid expected gas shortages in winter.

Outcome of gas talks between Vice-President Oettinger and Russian Energy Minister Novak

European Commission, Statement, Moscow, 29 August 2014:

At today’s meeting in Moscow with Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, Vice-President of the EU Commission Günther H. Oettinger reiterated his proposal to have an interim solution including an interim price.

Both agreed that a solution should contain the following four elements:

• the interim price
• the fulfilment of all supply and transit obligations
• a repayment plan for the unpaid bills to be developed by the next few weeks
• the use of OPAL pipeline

Oettinger says Ukraine may steal Russian transit gas in winter

BERLIN, August 28. /ITAR-TASS/. EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger insists on solving the gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine as soon as possible, as during the winter season Ukraine can steal gas that will be pumped to Europe, Oettinger told German TV Channel ARD in an interview Thursday.
“During a long and cold winter Ukraine will lack gas, and if the country does not have enough own gas - the danger of gas being stolen arises, the danger of the gas being lost on its way from the East to the West arises,” he said.

Ελληνικό σχέδιο για το ρωσικό φυσικό αέριο

Το ελληνικό σχέδιο έκτακτης ανάγκης ενόψει ενδεχόμενης διακοπής στη ροή ρωσικού φυσικού αερίου μέσω Ουκρανίας, αναμένεται να συζητηθεί από την ηγεσία του υπουργείου Περιβάλλοντος και Ενέργειας με τη συμμετοχή όλων των εμπλεκόμενων ενεργειακών φορέων, δηλαδή ΔΕΠΑ, ΔΕΣΦΑ, ΑΔΜΗΕ, ΔΕΗ και ΡΑΕ.

Με βάση την εντολή που έχει δώσει ο επίτροπος Ενέργειας Γκίντερ Έτινγκερ, η Ελλάδα όπως κάθε χώρα της ΕΕ οφείλει να έχει αποστείλει μέχρι και τα τέλη Αυγούστου στην Κομισιόν την τελική έκθεσή της σχετικά με τη διεξαγωγή τεστ αντοχής (stress test) απέναντι σε ενδεχόμενη διακοπή της ροής ρωσικού αερίου.

EU offered Ukraine and the RF to reach the agreement on gas, without the Stockholm court

The European Union (EU) has suggested "reaching an intermediate agreement on gas" between Ukraine and Russia, without waiting for rulings of the Stockholm arbitration court, Guenther Oettinger, EU Commissioner on Energy, said at the close of talks with the Ukrainian president.

The Contact Group on Ukraine must resume its work as soon as possible, Russia's President Vladimir Putin stated at the close of his meeting with Ukrsinian President Pyotr Poroshenko.

Russia, Ukraine, EU agree to go ahead with trilateral consultations on gas

MINSK, August 26. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s Energy Minister Alexander Novak and EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger will hold a bilateral meeting on Tuesday night to discuss issues of Russian natural gas supplies to Ukraine and Europe.
“We will discuss the current situation concerning with gas deliveries and transit,” Novak, who is currently visiting the Belarusian capital of Minsk, told journalists. “More detailed talks will be held in Moscow on August 29.
Earlier on Tuesday, Alexander Novak said Russia was ready to sell to Ukraine additional gas volumes should Kiev pay for them.

Γιάννης Μανιάτης: Η ευρωπαϊκή αλληλεγγύη να δημιουργήσ​ει μηχανισμό έκτακτης ανάγκης για τροφοδοσία φυσικού αερίου

ΥΠΕΚΑ, 20.08.14:

Ο Υπουργός Περιβάλλοντος, Ενέργειας και Κλιματικής Αλλαγής, Γιάννης Μανιάτης, με επιστολή του προς τον Αντιπρόεδρο της Ευρωπαϊκής Επιτροπής και Επίτροπο για θέματα Ενέργειας, Günther Oettinger, και τον Προεδρεύοντα του Συμβουλίου Υπουργών Ενέργειας της ΕΕ, Αν. Υπουργό Οικονομικής Ανάπτυξης της Ιταλίας, Claudio De Vincenti,  αναδεικνύει την αναγκαιότητα δημιουργίας ευρωπαϊκού μηχανισμού για την προμήθεια Υγροποιημένου Φυσικού Αερίου (ΥΦΑ), προκειμένου να αντιμετωπιστεί το ενδεχόμενο ενεργειακής κρίσης εξαιτίας της κατάστασης στην Ουκρανία.

European Commission to Discuss Idea of Buying Gas on Border With Russia, Ukraine

MOSCOW, August 12 (RIA Novosti) - The European Commission believes that Naftogaz' idea for European companies to purchase Russian gas on the border between Russia and Ukraine would require a review of contracts and is ready to discuss the suggestion with the two countries in the fall, European Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said in a statement.

"Naftogaz' idea that European gas companies could buy Russian gas at the Russian-Ukrainian border instead of getting it delivered through Ukraine requires a renegotiation of the transit contracts. As this cannot be done in the short term, it is a question that would need to be discussed in a trilateral meeting between the European Commission, the Russian Federation and Ukraine. We are working for such a meeting taking place in early autumn. At the moment, gas transit to the EU is unaffected," Oettinger's statement said.

ΥΠΕΚΑ: Εθνική ετοιμότητα για Διαταραχές Εφοδιασμού (Stress Test) Αερίου

ΥΠΕΚΑ, 1/8/14
 
Η ετοιμότητα της χώρας σε θέματα ασφάλειας εφοδιασμού καθώς και η προστασία των καταναλωτών εξετάστηκαν σε σύσκεψη που πραγματοποιήθηκε την Πέμπτη 31/07/2014 υπό την Προεδρία του Υπουργού Περιβάλλοντος Ενέργειας και Κλιματικής Αλλαγής, Γιάννη Μανιάτη, και τη συμμετοχή του Γενικού Γραμματέα Ενέργειας και Κλιματικής Αλλαγής, Κωνσταντίνου Μαθιουδάκη, με εκπροσώπους της ΡΑΕ, του ΔΕΣΦΑ, του ΑΔΜΗΕ, της ΔΕΠΑ, της ΔΕΗ και υπηρεσιακούς παράγοντες του ΥΠΕΚΑ.
Στις 07 Ιουλίου 2014 διαβιβάστηκε επιστολή του Επιτρόπου για θέματα Ενέργειας Günther Oettinger προς τον Υπουργό ΠΕΚΑ με την οποία ζητείται η υποβολή ειδικής έκθεσης μέχρι τέλος Αυγούστου 2014, σχετικά με την προσομοίωση εκτάκτων καταστάσεων (stress tests) εν όψει ενδεχόμενης διαταραχής του εφοδιασμού φυσικού αερίου από τη Ρωσία μέσω Ουκρανίας κατά τον προσεχή χειμώνα.

Russia’s Europe-bound energy supplies should stay outside sanctions (Günther Oettinger)

Russian oil and gas supplies to Europe should not be subject to sanctions over Russia’s stance on Ukraine, European Union Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said on Wednesday.

The EU energy envoy said he had always spoken against imposing any sanctions on Russian gas and oil supplies. 

He said, however, that Russia depended on Western technologies for offshore hydrocarbon and shale gas extraction.

Security of gas supply: the role of gas developments in the Mediterranean region

European Commission, Joint Statement, Malta, 11 July 2014.

Joint statement by Günther H. Oettinger, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for energy, and Konrad Mizzi, Minister for Energy and Health of the Government of Malta:

Today, Energy Ministers from the EU, North Africa and the East Mediterranean, high officials, industry representatives and key stakeholders in the energy sector met in Malta to exchange views on how gas-related developments in the Mediterranean region can enhance security of supply in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

Ο Υπουργός ΠΕΚΑ, Γιάννης Μανιάτης, σε Υπουργική Διάσκεψη στη Μάλτα με θέμα την ασφάλεια εφοδιασμού φυσικού αερίου και τον ρόλο της Μεσογείου

ΥΠΕΚΑ, 10.07.14
Ο Υπουργός Περιβάλλοντος, Ενέργειας και Κλιματικής Αλλαγής, Γιάννης Μανιάτης, θα συμμετάσχει στις εργασίες της Υπουργικής Διάσκεψης του Μεσογειακού Συνεδρίου για την ενέργεια με θέμα την ασφάλεια εφοδιασμού φυσικού αερίου και τον ρόλο της Μεσογείου, που θα πραγματοποιηθεί στη Βαλέτα της Μάλτας, την Πέμπτη 10 και την Παρασκευή 11 Ιουλίου.

Στο Συνέδριο που οργανώνουν η Μάλτα, η Κύπρος και η Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή συμμετέχουν ο Επίτροπος για την Ενέργεια, Günther Oettinger, οι Υπουργοί Ενέργειας των 28 κρατών μελών της ΕΕ, ενώ έχουν προσκληθεί και οι Υπουργοί Ενέργειας των Μεσογειακών χωρών του Μαρόκο, της Αλγερίας, της Τυνησίας, της Αιγύπτου, της Ιορδανίας, του Λιβάνου, της Παλαιστίνης και της Τουρκίας.