Today or not today: Deregulating the Russian gas sector
Abstract Although Russia is the world's biggest producer of natural gas, its ability to maintain timely and reliable supply to meet the growing global demand has come under question in recent months. The gas war with Ukraine notwithstanding, concern has been raised by a number of observers that underinvestment in the gas sector will lead to a systemic failure of the state monopolist OAO Gazprom to increase or even maintain current levels of production. Yet with a quarter of European gas coming from Russia, and with increasing presence of Gazprom in European downstream operations (such as Germany, Hungary, and other CIS states) as well as seemingly closer ties with Algeria, another major supplier of gas to Europe, there has been a strong reaction from Europe's policy-makers to decrease dependence on Russian gas. Deregulating and liberalising the gas sector would see the lifting of restrictions to foreign or independent investors wishing to gain access to Russian reserves, as well as the unhindered access to the pipeline infrastructure and export markets. It would also signal the unbundling of Gazprom and an end to the artificially low price of gas to the domestic consumer. This paper discusses whether deregulation is the optimal way to raise capital, attract investment and increase supply security for Russia's Western neighbours. In doing so, the paper identifies the objectives of the EU as the importer whilst trying to align them with the objectives of the Russian Federation as the exporter, in the current political context.
Die Liberalisierung des russischen Gassektors: 3 Szenarios?
Ziel des Projekts ist die Untersuchung verschiedener, realisierbarer (Re)organisationsformen des russischen Gassektors und insbesondere des (a) ungehinderten Zugangs Dritter zum Pipelinenetzwerk im Exportbereich (b) sowie des ungehinderten Zugangs Dritter im innerrussischen Pipelinenetzwerk (c) der vertikalen Separation This paper will examine viable reforms in the Russian gas industry. Strategies include vertical separation and third party access in the context of the liberalization of the Russian economy
Changes in Russia's gas exportation strategy: Europe versus Asia ?
Russia's gas strategy is currently undergoing fundamental changes. The internationalisation of Russia's gas exchanges is at the heart of Gazprom's strategy. The institutional and organisational developments in its principal export market, that of the European Union is a major challenge that brings opportunities as well as constraints. The European Union is still its main export market, but the emergence of Asia as a significant importer of gas is likely to modify the Russian gas export strategy. To some extent, Russia could bring these various potential markets into competition, at least as far as Europe and Asia are concerned. With almost 40% of world gas reserves, Russia undoubtedly has a card to play on the international energy markets.