FriedlNews: Gazprom Looking for Alternative Markets
Revenues at Russian state enterprise Gazprom drop drastically as the energy’s clients are looking for cheaper sources of supply. Even within the domestic market, the energy giant faces competition from indepenent producers. However, there are more reasons for the Kremlin to be displeased. At a summit with top representatives of the European Union in Yekaterinburg, President Vladimir Putin intends to vent his anger over the European energy policy.
EU Commissoner for Energy Günther Oettinger will be the first to experience the impact. Among observers in Moscow, he has the reputation of a Russia-hater. The Russians are particularly irritated by Oettinger’s effort to build a pipline through the Caspian Sea bypassing Russia. Furthermore, the country is irked by the cartel proceeding initiated by the EU Commission.
Deputy CEO of Gazprom Alexander Medvedev accuses the Eurocrats to politically stage the processings in order to put a downward pressure on the prices. Furthermore, he claims that the EU approached the Russian South Stream Pipeline project through the Black Sea only with scepticism.