October

Russia and Slovakia Celebrate50 Years of Energy CooperationBratislava recently hosted celebrations dedicatedto several different occasions highlightingGazprom’s positive and longstanding relationshipwith Slovakia. This includes the 50th anniversaryof the launch of the Druzhba (Russian for“Friendship”) oil pipeline, the 45th anniversaryof the first blue fuel shipment from the former-USSR to the former-Czechoslovakia and the40th anniversary of the launch of the EustreamA.S. gas transit pipeline system.The festivities were attended by the DeputyChairman of the Gazprom ManagementCommittee and Director General of GazpromExport Alexander Medvedev, the SlovakianMinister of Economy Tomáš Malatinský,the Russian Ambassador to Slovakia PavelKuznetsov, the Vice-President of the EuropeanCommission Responsible for Inter-InstitutionalRelations and Administration Maroš Šefčovič,the Managing Director of the Slovak Oil and GasUnion Ján Klepáč, members of Parliament andCEOs of Slovak companies.The events demonstrated how Gazprom valuesSlovakia as a major partner. Although gasvolumes purchased by the country for domesticconsumption are relatively small, it may surprisesome to learn that Slovakia is the second largesttransit operator of Russian gas after Ukraine.In November 2008, a contract was signedstipulating the shipment of up to 6.5 bcmpaof Russian gas to Slovakia, as well as gasMacedonia: 20 Years of Partnershipand Still Going StrongSome 20 years have passed since Gazpromentered into a mutually beneficial partnershipwith Macedonia.In 1982, we signed a long-term agreement onRussian natural gas deliveries with Makpetrol A.D.for a period of 15 years. After the construction ofa gas pipeline was completed and it was officiallyopened in September 1997, the first blue fuelsupplies started to flow into Macedonia.“We place high importance on the cooperationwith the countries of South East Europe8transit westward of up to 50.0 bcmpa. In 2011,Gazprom provided Slovakia with 5.89 bcm for itsown use and pumped exactly 47.38 bcm acrossits territory.There was an understandable concern onthe part of the Slovak partners regarding whatwould become of these contracts once NordStream begins running at full steam and lateris complemented by South Stream’s deliverysystem. However Medvedev assured Slovakia:“All our contract commitments will be honored.Gas transit across Slovakia is protected by the‘ship-or-pay’ clause. You can feel certain that youwill not be left without the transit fees.”The participants at the celebratory eventsnoted with satisfaction that a mutually beneficialpartnership between Gazprom and Slovakiawas crucial for the security of gas suppliesto European customers and also made animportant contribution to the overall developmentof positive Russian-European relations.“We observe the objective changes in theEuropean gas market and are ready to deal withthem. But at the same time we are confidentthat there are things and principles that must bepreserved intact irrespective of price fluctuationsor the emergence of new gas sources. Theseare principles of free competition, nondiscriminatoryapproach, abidance by legalnorms,” Medvedev emphasized.and in particular with Macedonia,” head ofrepresentative office of Gazprom Export inSkopje Sergei Ikonnikov said. He remindedthe audience that in the time span of 20 yearsMacedonia received more than 1.0 bcm ofRussian natural gas. The volumes of gasdelivered to Macedonia are only set to increaseas the local gas industry grows.New vistas will be opened if a portion of theSouth Stream pipeline links to Macedonia.