Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said today that total Russian gas exports to European countries have so far increased by between 18% and 20% this year compared to 2023.
Novak stated that gas supplies via pipelines and liquefied natural gas exceeded 50 billion cubic meters in the period from January to November.
“The best”
He added to the Russia-24 TV station: “Despite all the statements and sanctions pressures, gas is a very environmentally friendly product, and it is in great demand. Russian gas is the best in terms of value for money, both the logistical aspect and the price.”
The rise came from a very low level in 2023, when Russian gas supplies via pipelines to Europe fell by 55.6% to 28.3 billion cubic meters as Moscow’s relations with the West deteriorated sharply due to the conflict in Ukraine.
Supplies are expected to recover to about 32 billion cubic meters this year, according to Reuters calculations based on Gazprom’s daily exports and statistics from European gas pipeline operators.
Russian gas exports via pipelines to Europe face major challenges, as the 5-year gas transportation agreement between Moscow and Kiev expires at the end of the year, which led to Russian exports flowing through Ukraine despite the war, and Ukraine said it will not renew this arrangement.
About half of Russian gas flows to Europe via the Ukrainian route, while the rest is supplied via the TurkStream pipeline, which passes from the bottom of the Black Sea.
Novak reiterated that Russia is ready to supply Europe with gas through several ways, and that Ukraine and Europe must agree on the issue of transporting Russian gas.
Transporting supplies
He said: “Until now, the problem has not been solved, although the Europeans and European countries are interested in this (the route of transporting gas through Ukraine). But this depends mainly on the agreement between the European Union and Kiev regarding the possibility of (transporting) these supplies.”
Supplies of Russian super-cooled natural gas transported by sea are on the rise, and Europe accounts for about half of these exports.
The European Union has no imminent plans to stop purchasing liquefied natural gas from Russia, but the bloc said it will try to dispense with Russian gas by 2027 based on expectations of increased exports from Norway, the United States and Qatar.
Novak said that Russian liquefied natural gas exports in 2024 are expected to reach about 33 million tons, meaning that they are almost identical to last year’s supplies, which amounted to 32.9 million.
