Norwegian energetic concern Statoil signs a spot price contract with German company BASF, while Russian national gas major Gazprom imposes gas tariffs lied to oil world prices. Oslo and Moscow also involved in a challenge for cheap gas and new energetic markets
A country which is rich of natural gas fields is going to challenge with the most important world gas exporter. On Tuesday 11/20, Norwegian energetic concern Statoil and German company BASF signed a spot price 10 years contract for 45 bcm gas supplies from Norway to Germany.
Spot prices introduced by Statoil represent a cheaper condition for BASF than the one imposed by Russian national gas major Gazprom, whose gas supplies's price is lied to the oil one.
The quantity of gas bought by BASF from Statoil covers just a 5% of German gas national need, but the new kind of tariff could oblige also Gazprom to agree for cheaper contractual conditions.
Statoil Head Eldar Saetre told the Norwegian concern will start delivering gas in other EU countries' markets, despite of the strong Gazprom's presence in Europe.
In return, Gazprom Vice-president Alexandr Medvedev argued long-term contracts are necessary to guarantee Europe stable Russia's gas supplies.
Gazprom long-term contracts and high prices have been denounced to the International Arbitration Court in Stockholm by several EU energetic companies.
Moreover, in September 2012 the European Commission accused Gazprom of unfair managing in EU Central Eastern countries and the use of gas price prices in order to reach political goals as Russia's hegemony on EU gas market.
The contract BASF signed with Statoil means also a German company's political reorientation towards Russian national gas major.
After the sign of several important agreements in the past, as the sell of Wingas company stock's majority to Gazprom, BASF clearly demonstrated it aims to obtain cheaper gas despite of old energetic partnerships.
Moreover, the energetic contrast between Norway and Russia concerns also Japan's energetic market.
As PAP agency reported, on Tuesday 11/20 first Norwegian 135 mcm LNG expedition arrived in Japan from Snoehvit gas field, which is exploited by Norwegian concern Statoil, German company RWE, and French companies Suez Gaz de France and Total.
Despite of the quantity of gas delivered to Japan, Norway should rent two ice-breakers from Russian company Rosatom, in order to cross the Artical Ocean in a few time.
Matteo Cazzulani
