Politics & Regulation

Kazakhstan's oil and gas exploration scene is gradually changing, with more than 100 tracks up for bids, with 23 exclusively reserved for two state-run companies.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz raised hopes last week when he championed the construction of a gas pipeline connecting the Spanish and French gas grids.  Scholz said such a pipeline would help wean Europe away from its reliance on Russian energy.

Central African countries, including Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Gabon, Chad, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo and Congo Republic, have signed an agreement to construct three multinational oil and gas pipeline systems of around 6,500 km (4,000 miles), storage depots, LNG terminals, at least three refineries and gas-fired power plants linking 11 countries by 2030, according to project docum

France and Germany have agreed to reactivate a gas pipeline originally built for east to west flows to help each other over the approaching European winter.

Energinet and Gasunie on September 1, 2022, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate the preparations for cross-border hydrogen infrastructure between Denmark and Germany.

Amid rocketing energy prices in Europe Russia's Gazprom has halted gas supplies to Germany via Nord Stream 1 citing "maintenance" issues.

A ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Poland – Slovakia gas interconnector was held in Strachocina, Poland, on Friday, August 26, with representatives from the Polish and Slovak governments among the dignitaries who graced the occasion. The new gas connection is scheduled for commercial operation in October 2022.

For the second time in less than a year Canada has invoked a 1977 Pipeline Treaty with the United States to prevent the closure of Enbridge's Line 5 pipeline in Wisconsin.

Last month, Gazprom and the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) signed a $40 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU has been hailed as a move that will enable Iran and Russia to implement their long-standing plan of becoming the major players in a global cartel for gas suppliers, similar to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) for oil suppliers.

Croatia, seeking new sources of natural gas following Russia's War of Aggression on Ukraine, has announced that it will invest 180 million euros to build a new gas pipeline connecting the towns of Zlobin and Bosiljevo in northwestern Croatia.  

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for the construction of a gas pipeline from Portugal through Spain, France, Germany and the rest of Central Europe.  Such a connection he said would bring massive relief to a continent in the grip of tight energy supplies  and help to further reduce energy dependency on Russia.

Gazprom, Russia's state energy giant, has significantly reduced the flow of gas through Nord Stream 1, now at 20 percent of capacity.

By virtue of its geographic position, significant sunny days and abundant wind, Greece is being seen as the new hub for hydrogen in Europe.  

Olga Bielkova, Director of Government and International Affairs for the Gas Transmission Operator of the Ukraine (GTSOU) has warned European countries of becoming ever more dependent on Russian energy resources.  She advocates turning the tables on Russia by giving preference to the Ukrainian gas transport infrastructure:

Nord Stream 1 operator, Gazprom, has begun to ship reduced amounts of gas through Nord Stream 1 now that maintenance work has ended after a 10 day hiatus.  There was a collective sigh of relief from EU countries, as there had been concerns across the region that there could be a complete shutdown of gas supplies via the pipeline.