Mark Iden

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Pipeline valve with the flags of Germany and Russia (© Shutterstock/DesignRage)
Pipeline valve with the flags of Germany and Russia (© Shutterstock/DesignRage)

Whither Nord Stream 1? Russian Gas Deliveries In The Fog Of War

From 11 - 21 July this year the Nord Stream 1 will undergo its annual inspection.  For this work, Gazprom, Nord Stream's operator, will stop transmitting gas through the line.  In past years these inspections went off without a hitch.  Not so in 2022.

H2 hydrogen molecule (© Shutterstock/Alexander Limbach)
H2 hydrogen molecule (© Shutterstock/Alexander Limbach)

Norway's Equinor and Germany's VNG Join Forces To Develop The German Hydrogen Market

Equinor, the diversified Norwegian concern that until several years ago was better known by its previous name, Statoil, and the German energy company Verbundnetzgas AG (VNG), have agreed to expand their cooperation in the gas sector to include new areas such as Low-CO2 Hydrogen, Low-CO2 Ammonia as well as the extraction, use and offshore storage of CO2 (CCU and CCS).

MAN transport truck provided by OGE for Ukraine (© GTSOU)
MAN transport truck provided by OGE for Ukraine (© GTSOU)

"A Friend In Need Is A Friend Indeed!" OGE Raises The Bar To Help Ukraine

German Transmission System Operator Open Grid Europe (OGE) is lending a very big hand to the beleaguered people of Ukraine by providing three vehicles to help meet the needs of the regional military administration in its ongoing defensive war with Putin's Russia.

Sign of Kinder Morgan at Company headquarters in Houston, US (© Shutterstock/JHVEPhoto)
Sign of Kinder Morgan at Company headquarters in Houston, US (© Shutterstock/JHVEPhoto)

Kinder Morgan To Expand Permian Basin Highway Pipeline

Against a backdrop of rising demand for natural gas across Europe (as well as a not irrational fear that all gas flows from Russia may be stop in the near future), Kinder Morgan, the American pipeline operator, has indicated that it intends to underwrite the expansion of the 689-km natural gas pipeline that brings natural gas from the Permian Basin in West Texas to export hubs around Houston.

Dutch flag in the sky (© Shutterstock/Tatohra)
Dutch flag in the sky (© Shutterstock/Tatohra)

Hydrogen Pipelines: the Netherlands "Puts Its Money Where Its Mouth Is."

With an ample investment of 750 million euros from the Dutch government, Gasunie, the Netherland's gas network operator, has been tasked with managing and operating a national hydrogen transportation network.

Parts of the network are due to be completed by 2026.

Finland on the map (© Shutterstock/hyotographics)
Finland on the map (© Shutterstock/hyotographics)

Finland Determined To Build New National Network of Hydrogen Pipelines

Finland intends to construct and operate a national hydrogen transmission network and link this infrastructure to other countries in the Baltic Sea region.

This advanced energy network will help reduce carbon emissions and bolster the long-term security of Finland's energy supplies following its decision to stop using Russian gas.

Europe Russia pipeline with a knot (© Shutterstock/YAKOBCHUK V)
Europe Russia pipeline with a knot (© Shutterstock/YAKOBCHUK V)

Rumblings About Putin Cutting Europe Completely Off From Its Natural Gas

Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), has warned Europe to prepare immediately for Russia to turn off all gas exports to the region this coming winter. He called on the Europeans to reduce demand and keep nuclear power plants open.

Flags of Egypt and Lebanon (© Shutterstock/Maksym Kapliuk)
Flags of Egypt and Lebanon (© Shutterstock/Maksym Kapliuk)

Egypt to Supply Natural Gas to Lebanon With 20 Year Old Arab Pipeline

After months of deliberation and delays Lebanon will sign a final agreement to import yearly 650 million cubic meters of natural gas from Egypt to its energy poor country on 21 June 2022.  

Mention of the project was first made in these pages on 9 October 2021.

Close-up on Euro notes (© Shutterstock/Valentin Si)
Close-up on Euro notes (© Shutterstock/Valentin Si)

Russian Windfall As Oil and Gas Exports Top 93 Billion Euros During Ukraine War

The Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air has compiled a detailed dataset of pipeline and seaborne trade in Russian fossil fuels during the first 100 days of Putin's War of Aggression in Ukraine. It has found that exports of fossil based fuels soared to 93 billion euros in toto.