Details: Gas pipeline system crossing Belarus not owned by Minsk

<p> MINSK, Nov 11 - PrimePress. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko says there is a chance that the transit of cargo and natural gas through Belarus’ territory may be stopped if new Western sanctions are imposed. He made a statement to that effect at the meeting with the Council of Ministers on 11 November 2021, the president’s press service reports. </p> <p>   </p> <p> He noted that the Yamal-Europe transnational gas export pipeline runs through Belarus, and the volume of gas transit from Russia to the West has recently increased significantly. “We furnish Europe with heat, yet they threaten to close the border. And what if we shut off natural gas there? Therefore, I would recommend that the Polish leadership, the Lithuanians and other … individuals to think before they speak. But it is up to them. If they close [the border], let them do it. But the Foreign Ministry should warn everyone in Europe: if they introduce additional sanctions that are ‘indigestible and unacceptable for us, then we should respond. How to respond, we agreed with you about it half a year ago,” said Lukashenko. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Yamal-Europe pipeline owned by Gazprom </p> <p>   </p> <p> The Yamal-Europe gas export pipeline, which runs through Belarus, was commissioned in 1999. The pipeline supplies transit gas to Russia’s Kaliningrad region, Lithuania, Ukraine and Poland and on to Germany. Its design capacity is 32.9bn cubic metres per year. The Belarusian section of the Yamal-Europe pipeline is 575 km long. This section has always belonged to Gazprom. </p> <p>   </p> <p> In addition, between 2007 and 2011, Gazprom bought the Belarusian gas transmission system for $5 billion, which is now operated by Gazprom’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Gazprom Transgaz Belarus. Gazprom Transgaz Belarus also supplies gas to consumers in Belarus. </p> <p>   </p> <p> As a result, the two pipelines located in Belarus - Yamal-Europe and the former domestic gas transmission system - are now fully owned by Gazprom. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Thus, the Belarusian authorities cannot voluntarily stop the transit of Russian gas through the Yamal-Europe pipeline, as Belarus does not own the gas transportation system located on its territory. </p> <p>   </p> <p> It is very doubtful that Minsk will find Russian Gazprom’s support in this matter before the commissioning of Nord Stream 2, which is now bound by long-term contracts with European companies. In particular, Germany - the largest consumer of Russian gas - imports it under long-term contracts with Gazprom. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Nord Stream 2 will eventually reduce gas transit through Belarus </p> <p>   </p> <p> In the long term, Gazprom will reduce gas transit through Belarus, although the Belarusian transit corridor is one of the most attractive for the Russian monopoly in the European direction because Gazprom fully owns the gas transmission infrastructure here. </p> <p>   </p> <p> The Nord Stream 2 pipeline could be launched as early as 2022, potentially boosting Gazprom’s gas supply to Europe by 55bn cubic metres. </p> <p>   </p> <p> The Yamal-Europe pipeline could be used by Gazprom to balance gas supplies to Europe after the completion of its long-term contract with Poland. By reducing Yamal-Europe during a period of weak demand in the region, Gazprom could increase the load on the Nord Stream or the Ukrainian gas transportation system, whose capacity has already been paid for. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Gazprom’s take-or-pay contract for gas supplies to Poland expires in 2022. The Polish side has already made an official announcement that it will not conclude a new domestic gas supply contract with Gazprom from 2023 onwards. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Thus, the status of the Yamal-Europe pipeline may soon change - it will become a kind of “pipe” for balancing gas exports to Europe. End </p>

2021-11-12

Primepress