Minister Theodoros Skilakakis hinted that the Russian company is not complying with the terms of the contract on the sale prices at DEPA Emporias
Athens, Greece05 Nov. 2023, 08:19 230 read 0 comments
The Minister of Environment and Energy of Greece, Theodoros Skilakakis, announced that the local energy monopolist DEPA (DEPA Emporias) is negotiating with “Gazprom” on the prices and conditions for the supply of Russian gas in the coming year 2024, reports “Economicos Tahidromos”.
Theodoros Skilakakis has confirmed a report by Economikos Tahidromos that the two companies are at the negotiating table on pricing and a take-or-pay clause. That is, the penalty for quantities that despite the commitment the Greek company has not received.
The minister’s statements raised concerns about the selling prices of Russian natural gas, but mostly about the market shares that the fuel occupies the Greek market.
“Europe managed to limit the amount of Russian gas from 40% to 9%,” said the Minister of Environment and Energy.
“However, this is not the case in Greece,” he added, avoiding revealing Gazprom’s gas holdings.
As “Ekonomikos Tahidromos” wrote, in nine months the Russian gas that arrived via the Turkish Stream gas pipeline (Sidirokastro entry point), as well as by sea as liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes, corresponds to 40% of total imports.
According to some unconfirmed data, this amount, which is according to data from the ninth month, has increased significantly. Maybe even up to 60%.
Skilakakis, answering a question about whether the Bulgarian tax affects the price of Russian gas imported into Greece, noted that “with regard to the DEPA Emporias-Gazprom contract and as a representative of the Greek state, which is a shareholder in the Greek company, this tax does not affect it .And this, since the contract stipulates that the agreed price cannot be changed by taximposed before Sidirokastro”.
However, the minister stressed that “Russian gas is a complex issue and the DEPA Trade negotiations with Gazprom are also ongoing”.
He hinted that the Russian company is not complying with the terms of the contract on sales prices at DEPA Emporias: “There are conditions regarding the prices at which the gas is sold in relation to other suppliers,” which means, as Economikos Tahidromos wrote, that Gazprom cannot sell to another customer on the Greek market at lower prices than the contract it has with DEPA Emporias.
He also emphasized the complexity of the issue in relation to Europe’s policy of restricting Russian gas.
Skilakakis was also asked if there is a possibility in the plans of the Greek government and DEPA Emporia to stop the supply of Russian gas. He declined to answer, saying: “I cannot answer publicly when negotiations are ongoing.”
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