In the period from January 1 to September 30 Gazprom increased gas exports to non-CIS countries by 5.8% (by 8.2 billion cubic meters) compared with the same period last year. According to the report of the holding, 149.2 billion cubic meters were supplied to the European buyers.

Growth in exports to Germany amounted to 12.3% (4.7 billion cubic meters), to Austria - 33% (2 billion cubic meters), to the Netherlands - 40.1% (1.3 billion cubic meters), to Poland - 11.7% (0.9 billion cubic meters), to France - 9.4% (0.8 billion cubic meters), to Hungary - 11.5% (0.6 billion cubic meters), to the Czech Republic - 12.3%, to Denmark – 8.5%.

In September a significant increase in deliveries to the following Eastern European countries was noted: to Poland - by 59.1%, to Hungary - by 39.3%, to the Czech Republic - by 23.4%. The total export of "blue fuel" in September increased by 8.1% compared with the same month of 2017 - up to 15.9 billion cubic meters.

An important factor in the further increase in foreign gas supplies will be special auctions that Gazprom Export holds in Europe. For example, trading in the electronic platform of the company, consisting of three sessions, is ongoing.

The first runs from September 17 to October 30, the second from September 17 to November 29, and the third from September 17 to December 28. Gas will be supplied respectively to Germany, Austria and Slovakia. The total maximum volume of contracts for all sessions may amount to 1.03 billion cubic meters of gas.

“This tool will improve interaction with our customers in Europe, making the mechanism for selling gas even more efficient. In addition, we expect that this platform will become an additional way to optimize gas supplies”, the press office of Gazprom Export quoted the company's general director Elena Burmistrova.

Gazprom Export held the first auction for Europe in September 2015, having sold over 1.2 billion cubic meters of gas for delivery via the Nord Stream. The second auction was held in March 2016. It sold only 420 million cubic meters with delivery to the Baltic countries. The third was the most successful.

During the tender, which took place from August 31 to September 2, Gazprom Export sold 2 billion cubic meters of gas. At the auction, lots of fuel were played, which were supplied to consumers in Western and Northern Europe during the 2016/17 heating season.

“Now there is a need due to the fact that gas withdrawal under contracts with partners in the EU has already reached and even exceeded annual contractual obligations. This means that the gas sold through the new spot platform will definitely not force out the gas that goes under long contracts”, Aleksey Grivach, the Deputy General Director for Gas Projects of the National Energy Security Foundation, stated.

Source: Rusmininfo     l     KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: Rusmininfo