The Russian Black Sea fleet carried out a successful test of its new-generation Bastion coastal defense system, as part of naval exercises Moscow says were pre-scheduled and not timed to coincide with the current NATO drills in the basin. READ MORE: http://on.rt.com/7ilyef
Ain’t no big deal. That’s a defective rocket … all that smoke!! Probably needs new rings or pistons.
Poland Says Russian Gas Deliveries Tumble By 45%; Europe To Launch Sanctions On Friday, Russia Will Retaliate
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 09/11/2014 08:14 -0400
Yesterday, when Gazprom was supposedly “troubleshooting its systems”, we reported that in what was the first salvo of Europe’s latest cold (quite literally, with winter just around the corner) war, Poland complained that up to 25% of its usual gas deliveries from Russia had been cut. Russia indirectly hinted that this was also a result of Ukraine using “reverse flow” to meet its demands, with Europe allowing Kiev to syphon off whatever gas it needs without paying Gazprome for it. It also led Poland to promptly admit it would halt reverse flow to the civil-war ridden country. Fast forward to today when Polish financial website Biznes reports that things are going from bad to worse in Russia’s energy retaliation war, after Poland claimed a 45% shortfall in Russian natgas imports as of Wednesday.
Not surprisingly, Gazprom has said that is not the case, which leaves two options: either someone is lying, or the Ukraine is quietly, and illegally syphoning off gas destined for Europe.
More:
Poland’s listed natural gas group PGNiG noted Wednesday natural gas deliveries from the east 45% below the ordered level, the firm said in a Thursday press statement. Wednesday marks the third straight day when Poland claims to have received less gas than ordered from Russia’s Gazprom. Poland claims that shortfall forced a shutdown of re-export to gas-strapped Ukraine and an increase in imports from other directions to compensate the loss.
“Under the Yamal contract, PGNiG has the right to collect volumes lower or in line with the maximal daily amounts contracted for particular entry points,” PGNiG said. “Volumes ordered by PGNiG were below the maximal level – that is line with the contract. Nevertheless, they have not been realized by OOO Gazprom Export.”
In order to make up for the missing volumes from the east, PGNiG claims to have launched supplementary gas deliveries via Lasow at the German border and via Cieszyn at the Czech border, the firm noted in its statement.
Additionally, on Thursday PGNiG launched natgas supply through the Mallnow point at the Yamal pipeline on the German border, PGNiG said.
A spokesperson for PGNiG, Dorota Gajewska, refused to indicate if the level of Russian deliveries constituted a reduction from any prior periods, reiterating only that delivered volumes are below the contractually requested level, she said in an interview for broadcaster TVN24.
On Wednesday PGNiG claimed that deliveries had fallen 20% short of order on Monday and 24% short of order on Tuesday.
The firm said it was “investigating” the reasons behind the delivery shortfall, in particular whether it is of technical or commercial nature, and said it was compensating for the volumes with imports from other directions.
On Wednesday PGNiG still hasn’t received any explanation from Gazprom, the firm said.
Deliveries to PGNiG’s clients are being carried out without disruption, and there is no need to tap undergroung gas storage facilities, filled to 100% of their capacity (around 2.6 bcm).
PGNiG’s long-term Yamal contract with OOO Gazprom Export, dating back to 1996 and renegotiated in 2010, provides for annual natural gas imports of 10.24 bcm, drawn at Drozdowicze, Wysokoje & Polish points along the Yamal pipeline. The contract is based 85% on a take-or-pay formula. PGNiG will seek a gas price reduction during a renegotiation window that opens in November 2014.
So as the new balance of power is suddenly dawning on Europe, as is the realization that Putin does have all the leverage (as otherwise Gazprom would never suicide itself in a way as to show it can proactively cut European gas supplies, even if the recipient is a country that has been so vocally beligirent toward Russia as Poland), the Europeans have decided there is no point in waiting any longer, and as was blasted moments ago:
BERLIN – EU DIPLOMAT SAYS NEW SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA TO COME INTO FORCE ON FRIDAY
More from Reuters:
European leaders spoke early on Thursday and agreed to push ahead with a package of sanctions against Russia by the end of the week, due to its aggression towards Ukraine, the spokesman for British Prime Minister David Cameron said.
“This morning the prime minister took part in a joint call with several fellow European leaders; president (Herman) Van Rompuy, Chancellor (Angela) Merkel, president (Francois) Hollande and prime minister (Matteo) Renzi,” the spokesman said.
“(They spoke) to discuss the subject of sanctions against Russia in the context of Ukraine and agreement to proceed with the implementation of the sanction package that was agreed earlier in the week.”
Which means that the gloves are now fully off and Russia is content that it will be cold enough soon enough to give Putin even more of a first mover advantage, and thus negotiating leverage while the part of Europe, and all of Ukraine, shivers in the cold.
Sure enough:
RUSSIA WAITS FOR SANCTION DETAILS TO DECIDE HOW TO RETALIATE
RUSSIA WILL RESPOND TO NEW EU SANCTIONS: LUKASHEVICH
RUSSIA SAYS READY TO RESPOND TO NEW U.S. SANCTIONS
And:
In other words, Russia’s staggered gas reduction, which we predicted last weekend would happen momentarily, as it has, is not a retaliation but merely a side-effect. One wonders just how bad things will escalate to if in addition to its gas Europe loses, for example, access to Russian airspace, or worse.
And the full wrap of the most recent events surrounding Ukraine and Russia, via Bloomberg:
EU to impose new Russia sanctions tomorrow, will lay out conditions for eventually suspending measures
Russia says will retaliate against new sanctions, says they are “unfriendly policy”; may target cars, textiles: RIA
Ruble falls to record vs dollar
U.S. sees Ukraine as arena for geopolitical battles, Russian foreign minister says in interview to Itar-Tass
Ukraine needs to regroup, strengthen army; must open way to NATO membership, Parliament speaker tells Fokus magazine
Donetsk airport shelled by rebels overnight: Ukraine defense ministry
Gazprom may face biggest decline in European gas revenue in five years; sales to EU, source of 40% of rev., forecast to fall >10% to ~$55b this year, co. officials say
Putin orders war readiness test for East Russian regions: Interfax
McDonald’s being taken to court by Russia’s consumer-safety regulator for allegedly understating caloric values, microbial contamination in products; suit delayed as chain defends calorie count
Ukraine seeking to prevent Russian cos from getting licenses to run 3G networks in planned auction
Summary: tomorrow’s latest round of sanctions and countersanctions should be interesting.
I like Poland, but they’re not too bright when it comes to foreign relations with Russia. Poles HATE Russia. They’ve had centuries of experience with the Russians and they neither like, nor respect, Russia. The jokes we tell about Poles, they tell about Russians. Seriously-same jokes.
I like Poles, too. They’re generally nice, hard-working, tough people who have survived a lot of chaos. I think they’re making a big mistake in their foreign relations with Russia. Just cuz’ they’re in NATO and the EU does not make them bulletproof. Now, I suspect the’re learning the limits of foriegn policy as Russia cuts their gas.
I’m not going to say I’m anti-Poland or pro-Russian, just that it doesn’t pay to taunt the bear when you’re not exactly in a position of strength. The whole situation kind of reminds me of fighting with my little brother as a kid. He would egg on a fight, then run to mommy to protect him once I retaliated. He didn’t always get away without a black eye.
No one stood up for Poland the last time they got into a scrap with the Russians. That time, the Brits and Europe sat on their hands and let Hitler and Stalin carve up the country. I would keep that in mind this time around.
There’s a REASON for Polish jokes.
One of my employees is from Poland, I’m not sure who he hates more, Russians, Putin or obama.
War with Russia or anybody elese in the Ukraine is off the table Our oligarchs now have their war in Iraq and Syria. Todays news is that the Germans and English are telling Obama “Go ahead,we are behind you-way behind you”.
Oh my, more non-meaning stats.
“…On Wednesday PGNiG claimed that deliveries had fallen 20% short of order on Monday and 24% short of order on Tuesday….”
What in the hell does that mean?
Were the “orders” standard? Increased? Decreased? Early? Late? Delayed?
Did they up their order to attempt to stockpile for other EU nations?
This is yet MORE non-facts that allow cover for murder, ‘er I’m sorry, war.
Christ on a crutch we are FUBAR.
Card ,he probably hates you the most for not giving him a rise.He probably calls you a cheap bastard.
bb,
I hold much power over him, not only is he a stupid polack, but he gained entry illegally. If that stupid fuck so much as looks sideways I’ll send that fucker and his family back to the motherland in chains.
ps, I pay him well for a stupid polack, just above what I pay illegal wetbacks, whatever I have in my pocket at that moment and a piece of gum. The wetbacks never get gum, they can’t chew, sing stupid wetback songs and work at the same time.