[mos6507]

There's nothing new here. Europe has to find other ways to heat itself besides gas. That's just all there is to it.

[pana_burda]

Well, not every thing is lost (or cold) guys. We have here (Vzla) a good heat provider but only to those who behave good to him ..... too. Just ask for mr. Living(him)stone right by the door.

By the way, Happy and Successfull New Year 2009 to all of you, especially to those still in the waiting!!!

[bratticus]

There's nothing new here. Europe has to find other ways to heat itself besides gas. That's just all there is to it.

Maybe they could mutate into a form that hibernates in the winter. It's just as likely to work IMHO.

[dissident]

Ukraine refuses to pay $250 per tcm in 2009 when the EU will be paying $340. I would like see any of you refuse to pay your utility bills because you think the price is unfair and see what happens.

The only political weapon being wielded here is by the US and its puppet regime in Ukraine which is blackmailing Russia over gas transit. The purpose of this is to drive a wedge between Russia and the EU.

Sometimes I wish Russia would live up to the smear image being routinely dished out to the sheeple in the west. Then it would cut the gas off for a solid year completely and we would see lots of squirming by the self-righteous.

[copious.abundance]

Yawn. All Europe needs to do is take a glance at what's happening on the other side of the pond. Maybe there's a Marcellus or Haynesville shale right beneath the Ukrainian's feet and they don't even know it.

--> ZE LINK <--

Europe starting search for shale gas
By David Jolly
Published: August 22, 2008

PARIS: While American shale-gas recovery efforts are booming, Europe is just getting into the game.

The first hurdle is to learn just how much shale gas might be available for recovery in Europe, where there are numerous sites of potential interest. In North America, the drilling boom got under way after advanced techniques — horizontal drilling combined with hydraulic fracturing — allowed companies to tap gas trapped in huge shale beds that had been out of reach just a decade earlier.

"There's a possibility that under our feet are the same kind of shale-gas deposits that you have in the United States," said Brian Horsfield, a professor of organic geochemistry at the GFZ German Research Center for Geosciences in Potsdam, Germany. "There are many of the same types of shale formations in Europe."

Working with institutions in France, the Netherlands and elsewhere, GFZ scientists will in January begin a six-year industry-financed study to map possible shale-gas sites in Europe. They will investigate the possibility of commercial recovery, using the Barnett shales around Fort Worth, Texas, as a yardstick. Their first project involves shale deposits in Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany, but there are other shale deposits in Austria, France, Poland and elsewhere.

[...]

[Tanada]

I saw this on BBC. Its our future too with Russian when we run out of gas IMHO

I thought Europe was going to start drilling their massive shale bed natgas resources in imitation of the United States? What happenned to that plan?

[GoghGoner]

In 2006, Russia cut off supply for exactly one day and then turned the gas back on. It seems more serious than 2006 with the financial difficulties facing the world economy. The 2 billion will have to be paid, kind-of small change compared to TARP in the U.S.

[bratticus]

No Gas For You!

Russia shuts off gas to Ukraine

BBC
Thursday, 1 January 2009

Russia has stopped all gas supplies to Ukraine after the collapse of talks to end a row over unpaid bills and prices.

Russia's gas giant Gazprom said it turned off the taps at 0700 GMT, when its contract to supply Ukraine ended.

...skip...

Russia's Vladimir Putin had earlier warned Ukraine not to disrupt the transit of gas to Europe.

He warned of "very severe consequences" for Ukraine in terms of its relations with both Russia and European countries.

...snip...

Is that weak or what? As if the Ukraine has anything to lose anymore. As if Russia will be isolated from the repercussions of a skirmish. I don't see this move as having a happy ending for Russia. It's hard to defend a fossil fuel pipeline and it's easy to disrupt one. That and you cannot get blood out of a stone.

A look at economic developments around the world

By The Associated Press, Dec 22, 2008

... The Ukrainian currency has lost some 40 percent of its value since September as a fall in the export of steel, the heart of the economy, led to a shortage of foreign currency. That was coupled with a loss of confidence in the hryvna and the banking system. ...

[Tanada]

No Gas For You!

Is that weak or what? As if the Ukraine has anything to lose anymore. As if Russia will be isolated from the repercussions of a skirmish. I don't see this move as having a happy ending for Russia. It's hard to defend a fossil fuel pipeline and it's easy to disrupt one. That and you cannot get blood out of a stone.

So are you saying Russia should give the Ukraine a huge price discount out of the goodness of their hearts? Russia is better off keeping the gas for themselves than letting the Ukraine keep playing the game that has been going on the last few years of always being the low price buyer.

[Tanada]

The pipelines pass THROUGH Ukraine to Europe.

An official at Gazprom's headquarters in Moscow said: "We have fully cut off supplies to Ukraine as of 10am (0700 GMT) today."

"Usually we supply 390 million cubic metres per day, of which 300 million is transit gas for Europe. Today supplies are running at 300 million cubic metres. We continue supplying Europe in full," Reuters quoted him as saying.

Don't believe the above report. As occured a couple of years ago, Ukraine will still use gas, but the poor buggers at the END of the pipeline suffer, as the pumped volume is lower. (Austria, Hungary).

Soon the UK too will be in this party, (and WE will be at the very end of the pipeline)

Gasmon

The problem is for reason of internal pollitics the countries west of the Ukraine tread very lightly the last time around and made lots of soothing noises. If they do the same thing again then they will see themselves suffer, what they should be doing is either pressuring the Ukraine to make good to Russia for past debts and pay fully for future ones, or if they can't stomache that they need to coallesce and pay the Ukraine debt with an international grant. Doing the former puts the blame firmly on the Ukraine where it belongs, doing the latter effectively increases their own expenses to subsidize Ukraine.

[bratticus]

The pipelines pass THROUGH Ukraine to Europe.

An official at Gazprom's headquarters in Moscow said: "We have fully cut off supplies to Ukraine as of 10am (0700 GMT) today."

"Usually we supply 390 million cubic metres per day, of which 300 million is transit gas for Europe. Today supplies are running at 300 million cubic metres. We continue supplying Europe in full," Reuters quoted him as saying.

Don't believe the above report. As occurred a couple of years ago, Ukraine will still use gas, but the poor buggers at the END of the pipeline suffer, as the pumped volume is lower. (Austria, Hungary).

Soon the UK too will be in this party, (and WE will be at the very end of the pipeline)

Gasmon

Now that's weaker still. "Dear Ukraine, please do the right thing and cut off your gas. -- Sincerely, Russia"

[deMolay]

I thought last time the Ukraine was caught stealing gas from the pipeline?

[bratticus]

I thought last time the Ukraine was caught stealing gas from the pipeline?

Seems things are different in general now.

Ruble Falls Most Since Since Currency Basket Started in 2005

By Denis Maternovsky

Dec. 31 (Bloomberg) -- Russia’s ruble fell the most against the central bank’s dollar-euro basket this year since its introduction in 2005 amid a weakening economy and speculation the government will keep devaluing the currency.

...skip...

Bank Rossii allowed the ruble to decline more than 1 percent against the basket 12 times since Nov. 11, according to a central bank official who declined to be identified.

...snip...

[Cabrone]

....and it's going to be a balmy -8degC to -10degC tomorrow in Kiev.

Happy New Year Ukraine.

PS: Mr Putin just needs you to sign here.

[cephalotus]

Ukraines gas reserves will last till April, so its a bit early to predict frozen people this winter.

[traderm]

With the rublie sliding to record low, I'm very surprise they use their resources as a weapon.

_______________
The Road Ahead

[kublikhan]

I thought Europe was going to start drilling their massive shale bed natgas resources in imitation of the United States? What happenned to that plan?

It is just getting started. European Shale gas is several years behind where the United States is. You might want to check out GASH for the latest info. They are starting the first phase of a 6 year project this month to predict and explore for shale gas:
Gash Shales in Europe

[wisconsin_cur]

With the rublie sliding to record low, I'm very surprise they use their resources as a weapon.

_______________
The Road Ahead

With it being so low it means that they can less afford to be nice when what is called for is to get paid.

[jamest]

I thought Europe was going to start drilling their massive shale bed natgas resources in imitation of the United States? What happenned to that plan?

It is just getting started. European Shale gas is several years behind where the United States is. You might want to check out GASH for the latest info. They are starting the first phase of a 6 year project this month to predict and explore for shale gas:
Gash Shales in Europe

It's amazing that they plan to take 6 years to map the basins. They need to import some coonasses and okies to giterdone!

[jamest]

sorry, double post!