Iran Yearns For The Return Of Western Capital
by Kostis GeropoulosIran’s President Hassan Rouhani delivered a message of “friendship, engagement, co-operation and peaceful coexistence” on 23 January, signaling his country’s intention to seek...
View ArticleGazprom Compromises To Avoid Losing Business
by Kostis GeropoulosThe Lithuanian Energy Ministry said on 30 January that shareholders of the Baltic state’s gas utility Lietuvos Dujos voted to initiate arbitration against Russian gas monopoly...
View ArticleShale Gas Fear Leaves UK Vulnerable
by Kostis GeropoulosCuadrilla Resources, one of the energy firms hoping to exploit the UK’s shale gas resources, has announced two new exploration sites in Lancashire. But drilling for shale gas in...
View ArticleLower Oil Prices Won’t Upset Slick Putin
by Kostis GeropoulosClaims that $80 oil would lead to an economic crisis in Russia and an end to the presidency of Vladimir Putin are not true, Chris Weafer, a senior partner with consultancy...
View ArticleUkraine Violence Clouds Russia Gas Deal
by Kostis GeropoulosFollowing lethal violence, Ukraine’s embattled President Viktor Yanukovich and opposition leaders have signed a breakthrough deal on ending the political crisis in the former Soviet...
View ArticleUkraine Crisis Boon For South Stream?
by Kostis GeropoulosThe construction of the Russian-backed South Stream gas pipeline, bypassing Ukraine, may be accelerated if the situation in Ukraine deteriorates further. The pipeline is meant to...
View ArticleRoad To South Stream Is Paved With Good Intentions
by Kostis GeropoulosThe reason an EU-Russia task force on the South Stream gas pipeline project was formed is not to renegotiate the Inter-Governmental Agreements between the countries concerned and...
View ArticleEU’s Gas Lifelines TAP, TANAP Coming
by Kostis GeropoulosATHENS - Both the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) will be completed in time for gas from the Caspian region to be supplied to Europe, BP Vice...
View ArticleRussian Energy Exempt From EU Sanctions
by Kostis GeropoulosAt the European Council meeting on 20-21 March, the Crimea crisis was discussed by EU leaders. However, the EU sanctions imposed on individuals over Russia’s annexation of Crimea...
View ArticleTimchenko – South Stream’s Achilles’ Heel
by Kostis GeropoulosA consortium led by Russia’s Stroitransgaz is reportedly a shoo-in to win a €3.5 billion deal to build a section of the South Stream natural gas pipeline across Bulgaria....
View ArticleNo End in Sight for Kashagan Oilfield Woes
by Kostis GeropoulosIt’s one of the world’s largest but also most challenging oil fields, still plagued by technical difficulties, mistakes and delays. It is unclear when production at the giant...
View ArticlePutin’s Slick Iranian Oil Deal Upsets Sanctions
by Kostis GeropoulosIran and six world powers discussed in Vienna this week concrete steps towards a deal meant to result in long-term curbs on Tehran’s nuclear programme. But reports of oil talks...
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Malta Bets On Oil, Gas: Six, Two And Even
by Kostis GeropoulosVALLETTA, Malta - My car driver, Heathcliff, points to a large oil rig docked in the Valletta Harbour as he takes me to the airport. “It’s being repaired to start drilling,” he...
View ArticleLimp US Sanctions Bypass Russia’s Energy Majors
by Kostis GeropoulosThe US Treasury blacklisted Rosneft Chairman Igor Sechin but Russia’s top oil producer itself was not placed on the black list. Sechin, an oil tycoon and former KGB official seen a...
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Israel Eyes Egyptian Conduit For EU Gas
by Kostis GeropoulosThe owners of an Israeli gas field have reached an agreement to export natural gas through Egypt, an economically lucrative deal that could also cool off any anti-Israeli sentiments...
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EU Leaders Not Ready To Break With Putin
by Kostis GeropoulosBRATISLAVA – The Hungarian government supports the Russian-led South Stream project, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban told New Europe on 15 May, noting that the EU should not...
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Putin: “Dasvidaniya” EU, “Ni Hao” China
by Kostis GeropoulosCornered by western sanctions, Russian President Vladimir Putin oversaw the signing of a massive 30-year deal between Gazprom and China's CNPC on 21 May that calls for the Russian...
View ArticlePoland Spearheads EU Quest For Energy Independence
by Kostis GeropoulosWROCLAW, Poland – Lower Silesia is concerned with Poland’s reliance on oil and gas imports from the east and hailed the latest initiative by the country’s premier for an Energy...
View ArticleScotland, Crimea, East Ukraine Eye Energy On Independence
by Kostis GeropoulosNorth Sea oil and natural gas reserves are expected to become a major financial asset for Scotland on independence, Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney said late last month....
View ArticleThe Price of War: Iraqi Oil Soars
by Kostis GeropoulosTHESSALONIKI – The outbreak of violence involving militant groups who seized two cities in Iraq and have pledged to march on Baghdad added to concerns over security and the...
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