Ukraine closes schools to save gas as Russia keeps pipelines closed

Ukraine has told all schools and higher education institutions to close in an effort to save gas, after its Russian supplier refused to deliver more fuel.

Russia slams US sanctions, says counter-measures 'won't take long'

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has slammed the latest round of US sanctions over Ukraine as “another hostile move.” Moscow said that this will not change the country’s position, and added that imposing “counter-sanctions will not take long.”
The Foreign Ministry accused the US of adopting a confrontational course toward Russia.
“It’s the US that is banking on the escalation of Ukraine’s internal conflict and pressing Russia with sanctions,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that this comes after a ceasefire has been reached in eastern Ukraine at huge effort and there is a hope for a dialogue between the rebel forces and Kiev.
"Of course our retaliatory measures will not keep you waiting, but this is a forced measure," the online statement said.

Ukraine’s unused gas in 2013 may cause fines of almost ten billion dollars.

MOSCOW, October 20 (Itar-Tass) - Ukraine’s incomplete receipt of gas in 2013 may cause fines of almost ten billion dollars, the National Energy Security Foundation said, analysing the current situation in Ukraine’s gas market.
The Foundation’s Director General Alexei Grivach says “Naftogaz once again breaches the “take and pay” term and will receive from Gazprom a new invoice in early 2013.”
“We doubt, within the year Naftogaz will be able to buy from Gazprom over 17-18 billion cubic metres. While it is obliged to buy 41.6 billion. As the average contracted price is 410 dollars per one thousand cubic metres, the unused amount will cost close to ten billion dollars.”

Besides, the Foundation says the claims about high prices for gas, referring t gas on reverse gas from Europe, are not quite correct.

Το παρασκήνιο του ναυαγίου: το ραντεβού που άλλαξε τα πάντα ή η ρωσική μπλόφα;...... με το υψηλό υπερτίμημα που φερόταν διατεθειμένη να προσφέρει εξαρχής κατάφερε να διώξει τον ανταγωνισμό

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Την περασμένη εβδομάδα, όπως διέρρευσε από κυβερνητικές πηγές, στελέχη της Gazprom, επισκέφθηκαν τη Γενική Διεύθυνση Ανταγωνισμού στις Βρυξέλλες. Στόχος τους ήταν να βολιδοσκοπήσουν τις προθέσεις των Βρυξελλών απέναντι στη διαφαινόμενη απόκτηση της εταιρείας αερίου από τη ρωσική εταιρεία. Η απάντηση που φέρεται να δόθηκε από τους ανθρώπους της Κομισιόν ήταν ότι η εξαγορά της ΔΕΠΑ θα αντιμετωπιστεί «πακέτο» με τις υπόλοιπες ανοιχτές υποθέσεις του μεγαλύτερου προμηθευτή αερίου της Ε.Ε. και ειδικότερα με τις υποθέσεις για κατάχρηση δεσπόζουσας θέσης σε αγορές όπως η Πολωνία, η Ρουμανία και η Βουλγαρία.

Gazprom and partners begin South Stream 7/12/12

Russia’s state-owned gas major Gazprom and its partners are beginning construction of the $16bn South Stream pipeline that will run under the Black Sea to Europe and rival the Nabucco project.
­The symbolic first welding of the pipeline takes place in the city of Anapa in Southern Russia on Friday. Among those present at the ceremony are Russian President Vladimir Putin, Bulgaria’s Regional Development and Public Works Minister Liliyana Pavlova as well as representatives of Italy's ENI, France's EDF and Germany's BASF.