Ukraine power grid attack came from inside Russia
A coordinated cyber-attack at the end of last year on Ukraine’s power grid was made by hackers using a Russian-based internet provider as well as calls from inside the country.
Ukraine
Ukraine fines Gazprom $3.5billion
The head of Ukraine's competition authority said it has decided to fine Gazprom $3.5billion for abusing its monopoly on the Ukrainian gas market.
JKX gets backing in feud with Russian investor
JKX Oil & Gas has received backing from corporate governance specialist ISS in rejecting all resolutions proposed by Proxima Capital Group which is accused of trying to "seize control" of the company.
Regal Petroleum gets tax break in Ukraine
Regal Petroleum will pay less on its gas production in the Ukraine after the government decided to halt an emergency tax rate on the country's oil and gas production.
Ukraine gas tax cut welcomed by JKX
JKX Oil & Gas said it welcomed the Ukraine government's decision to cut gas production tax in the country to 29% from 55%.
Ukraine restores electricity supplies to Crimea
Ukraine has restored electricity to the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula more than two weeks after it was cut off, according to the administration in the Kherson region. All electricity supplies from mainland Ukraine were cut off on November 22 when unknown attackers blew up pylons leading to Crimea, leaving the region of two million people with no power.
Ukraine’s PM calls for halt on Nord Stream II pipeline project
The Prime Minister of Ukraine has called for the European Union to block the Nord Steam II gas pipeline project, according to reports. The leader said it would hurt his country and also potentially provide Russia with more of a monopoly over gas supplies in the region.
Naftogaz boss warns new pipeline could spell end for Ukraine’s gas transport business
The head of Naftogaz said a proposed new pipeline to pump Russian gas to Europe could spell the end for Ukraine’s gas transport business. In September Russia’s Gazprom formed a consortium with E.ON, BASF, Wintershall, OMV, ENGIE and Shell to develop the Nord Stream-2 pipeline. It would allow Russia to bypass Ukraine completely from 2019.
Gazprom resumes gas supplies to Ukraine
Russian natural gas exporter Gazprom has resumed supplies to Ukraine, chief executive Alexei Miller said in a statement on Monday, after deliveries were halted in July over a pricing dispute between Moscow and Kiev.
Political situation in Ukraine hits Regal’s half-year profit
The political turmoil in Ukraine has led to Regal Petroleum seeing its half-year profits slump in 2015.
Galicia Energy to sell Ukraine licence
Galicia Energy has reached an agreement in principle to sell its the licence for its Ukraine oil and gas asset.
Ukraine plans higher gas imports, injections in August
Ukraine plans to increase natural gas imports from Europe in August with a view to boosting injections into storage for next winter, Energy Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn said on Monday. He told a televised briefing that Ukraine aimed to import around 40 million cubic metres (mcm) of gas per day from Europe, up from 24 mcm of gas per day in July. Plans call for increasing injections into underground storage to 52-53 mcm per day in August from the current 35-40 mcm.
Ukraine boosts gas imports from Slovakia
Ukraine increased its purchase of natural gas imports from Slovakia by 41 percent on Tuesday, boosting its storage supplies, transport monopoly Ukrtransgaz said. Cash-strapped Ukraine is now buying most of its natural gas from Slovakia after halting imports from Russia three weeks ago due to a pricing dispute. It was unclear whether the increase on Tuesday was due to price factors or other reasons.
Ukraine raises gas imports from Slovakia
Ukraine will take about 21 percent more gas from Slovakia to boost deliveries to underground storage after the country suspended imports from Russia over a pricing dispute, transport monopoly Ukrtransgaz said on Friday. Ukraine plans to import 16.5 million cubic metres (mcm) of gas on Friday from Slovakia, up from daily imports of 13.6 mcm so far this month, a spokesman for the company said. He said Ukraine pumped 27 mcm of gas per day from July 1-9 and collected 12.2 billion cubic metres of gas in reserves as of July 10.
Ukraine says can survive without Russian gas, no threat to EU supplies
Ukraine expects to store enough natural gas for next winter despite cutting off imports from Russia and Russian flows crossing the country destined for Europe will not be disrupted, Energy Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn said on Thursday. State energy firm Naftogaz stopped buying gas from Russia's Gazprom on Wednesday after energy ministers from Kiev and Moscow failed to agree on quarterly prices. "The suspension of deliveries will not affect the safety or transportation of gas (to Europe) ... or preparation for the new heating season," Demchyshyn said.
Ukraine halts Russian gas imports, flows to Europe unaffected
Ukraine said it halted natural gas imports from Russia on Wednesday after EU-brokered talks collapsed without a deal on how much Kiev should pay for its supplies and an interim accord expired at midnight. Russian gas flows to the European Union via Ukraine were unaffected. The European Commission said both sides had promised gas transit west would remain smooth, but it would not relinquish its mediation efforts until there was agreement. "From today, Ukraine is not getting gas from Russia. Transit supplies are as normal," Maksim Belyavsky, a spokesman for Ukraine's gas transit monopoly Ukrtransgaz, said.
Ukraine does not agree with gas discount proposed by Russia for Q3, report says
Ukraine does not agree with gas discount proposed by Russia for third-quarter gas deliveries, Russia's RIA news agency quoted Ukraine's Energy and Coal Minister Vladimir Demchishin as saying on Tuesday.
Russia softens Ukraine gas price stance ahead of talks
Russia proposes keeping the gas price for Ukraine unchanged in the third quarter, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday, a day before Russia's energy minister goes to Vienna for gas talks. "Despite all the difficulties in our current relations with Ukraine, we should within reason make concessions," Medvedev told Energy Minister Alexander Novak and Gazprom Chief Executive Alexei Miller. Gazprom had said Ukraine would be charged $287 per 1,000 cubic metres with no discount in the third quarter. That compares to the $247 charged in the second quarter, including a discount of $100 per 1,000 cubic metres.
Shell to consider pulling out of Ukraine
Oil major Shell is said to be considering whether to pull the plug on its last exploration well in Ukraine. The move is being considered as the project has been on hold for almost a year, due to the conflict between pro-Russian separatists and Ukranian forces.
Ukraine requests to triple gas import from Russia
The Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Ukraine has requested one billion cubic metres of gas imports from Russia this month. It would treble the amount received in March and comes after Naftogaz and Russia’s Gazprom signed an interim deal for cheaper supplies of gas from Russia. The deal, which is expected to last three month, could help provide some time as both country’s debate energy costs.
JKX Oil and Gas launches arbitration proceedings against Ukraine
JKX Oil and Gas has started arbitration proceedings against Ukraine under the Energy Charter Treaty for $180million in rental fees. The company, and its wholly owned Ukrainian and Dutch subsidiaries, are seeking compensation for the losses they have suffered from the country’s “treaty violations”. JKX Oil and Gas claims this includes Ukraine’s “failure” to treat JKX’s investments in a sufficient manner and “failing to comply” with commitments made by the country.
Russian stocks and ruble advance on oil amid Ukraine peace talks
Russian stocks gained for a fifth day and the ruble strengthened after oil’s biggest weekly advance in four years and as talks on a ceasefire in Ukraine continued. The Micex Index of stocks rose 2% to reach the highest level since April 2011 with food retailer Magnit leading the advance. The ruble jumped 2% against the dollar. Government bonds climbed after central bank governor Elvira Nabiullina said policy makers are unlikely to reverse last month’s surprise interest rate cut. Russian assets have been pummeled by falling oil prices and intensifying fighting in Ukraine. Today’s rebound follows a rally in the price of Brent and the prospect for a lasting agreement to end the fighting.
JKX Oil and Gas hits gas in Ukraine
JKX Oil and Gas has reported successful test results from its Elizavetovskoye field in Ukraine. Well E-303 was drilled to a total depth of 4,406metres and initially completed in the G7-12 sandstone reservoirs only. Following additional perforations in the shallower A2 carbonate reservoir and acid treatment, co-mingled production with the G7-12 sandstone reservoirs was 5.21 MMcfd of gas and 18 bpd of condensate through a 48/64-inch choke with a flowing wellhead pressure of 505 psi.
Regal Petroleum fears business in Ukraine will decline
Regal Petroleum fears the current situation in Ukraine will have a negative affect on business. Ongoing geopolitical events have resulted in significant volatility in the Ukrainian Hryvnia exchange rates, uncertainty in the gas sales price and unexpected changes to the subsoil tax regime in Ukraine.
JKX Oil and Gas suspends capital investment programme in Ukraine
JKX Oil and Gas has suspended its planned 2015 capital investment programme in Ukraine following sales restrictions imposed on private gas producers. The company said it would no longer carry out work until “economic parameter for investment improves”.