Gazprom YTD Output Up, Exports Down
Russia’s Gazprom lifted output by 1.1% yr/yr in the year up to September 15, to 348.1bn [Russian] m3, according to preliminary results published by the state company on September 17.
Gas exports to countries not in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) slumped 4% to 135.6bn m3, however. Gazprom and other pipeline suppliers have seen sales dip this year in Europe, as a result of rising LNG shipments to the continent.
Certain European countries still increased their intake of Russian gas this year, Gazprom noted in a message on social media. Supplies to Hungary rose by 50.2% this year, Austria by 32.8%, the Czech Republic by 33.6%, Slovakia by 41.4%, the Netherlands by 13.7% and France by 5.5%, it said.
But with the limitation on capacity in the major Opal pipeline in place with effect mid-September, the company will likely see a dip in exports overall this year compared with last year, unless it can boost flows through Ukraine and/or Poland.
Gazprom added that the Nord Stream 2 project was now 81% complete, with 1,989 km of pipe in place. It is nearing the Danish waters, for which no pipeline route has yet been approved.