Gazprom warns EU on plan for oil

International Herald Tribune ^ | May 20, 2008 | Judy Dempsey

[vertolet]

BERLIN: Gazprom, the Russian export monopoly that delivers a quarter of the European Union's natural gas, warned the bloc Tuesday that it was endangering its own security of supply with plans to break up the Continent's energy giants.

At an annual EU-Russian energy conference, Gazprom's director for international relations, Stanislav Tsygankov, said proposals being drafted by the European Commission to force the separation of energy production, transmission and distribution would sow "instability and unpredictability" across the sector.

"Which companies will be able to plan long term investments under those...

[goldstategop]

Gazprom wants to retain its monopoly market in Europe. The message is unsubtle: either do business on our terms or look elsewhere for gas.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Russians know their blackmail forward and backward.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Speaking of oil: a rather intelligent idea for breaking the death-grip OPEC monopolists, have on America:

http://www.coasttocoastam.com/shows/2008/05/20.html#recap

[fremont_steve]

Actually - they may have a point.

This sounds an awful lot like California’s ideas for breaking up the Power Company monopolies.

First - make them divest themselves of the their power generation (which they wanted to sell..)
Second - don’t allow them to make long term contracts, instead they have to pay highest bidder prices in a dutch auction?????
Third - Artificially limit the price of production to 1/5 of the cost????

And we all know how well this plan worked out... rolling blackouts!

[SubMareener]

One hundred years ago, we had a Gazprom in the USA. It was called Standard Oil.

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

Russian participants at the conference warned that if the commission did introduce restrictions against Russian companies then Russia would retaliate. Already last month, the Kremlin published a list of companies it deemed were strategic and so off limits to outsiders. And, there are other obstacles. For example, energy companies have to sell any gas they produce to Gazprom.

no one f**ks with Russia

[RightWhale]

Gazprom now desires to be part of the TransAlaska/TransCanada Natural Gas Pipeline and will partner with Conoco/BP, much to their surprise.

[eleni121]

Screw the Middle East and OPEC terrorists. Build this and do it now.

Bering Strait Bridge