Help Sitemap Home Skip Navigation Contact Us Disability Statement


Premium Article !

Your account has been frozen. For your available options click the below button.

Options

Premium Article !

To read this article in full you must have registered and have a Premium Content Subscription with the The Scotsman site.

Subscribe

Registered Article !

To read this article in full you must be registered with the site.

Sign In
Register

Russia cuts off gas supplies to Europe



Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image

Published Date: 07 January 2009
By DAVID GUNN
RUSSIA cut off all gas supplies to Europe today in a dispute with its neighbour.
Russian gas giant Gazprom stopped sending any gas to European consumers at 5.44am GMT today, Ukrainian state gas company Naftogaz said.

Russia confirmed the cut-off, but said it was Ukraine's fault because it had shut down the last pipeline carrying Russian gas.

Early today, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Croatia, Serbia and Turkey all reported a halt in gas shipments, while France, Germany, Austria, Poland and Hungary reported substantial drops in supplies.

Tens of thousands of people have been left without heat in the bitter winter cold as governments scramble to find alternatives.

Romania's president called Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin aftergas supplies were halted.

Traian Basescu called Mr Putin after a second pipe bringing Russian gas to Romania through Ukraine was turned off this morning.

Romanian economy minister Adriean Videanu held an emergency meeting with producers and distributors to assess the situation. The pipe coming from Ukraine to northern Romania pumped 30% of Russian gas imports.

Mr Videanu said Romania has sufficient gas reserves for the winter. He said electricity and heating plants will use coal and heating oil instead of gas.

Yesterday a pipe bringing 70% of Russian gas to Romania through Ukraine was turned off.

The full article contains 221 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 07 January 2009 10:03 AM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Russia , Ukraine
 
1

Rulesbutnotrulers,

Federation, not separation 07/01/2009 09:46:48
Russia cannot be trusted under any cirecumstances because (as with any other nation) it marches to a different drum.

Self reliance in food, defence, supplies and food is the ONLY sensible way for every nation.

UK should import nothing it can make or do for itself. That includes energy, food, labour and goods and services. Unemployment is impossible in such a scenario.

I would add as an aside that we should not import religions either, so that cuts out Christianity, Islaam, Jewism, Hindus, etc. May be that's for next year, though, but think of the troubles it would save us from.
2

gordon'sboomhasbust,

New Cumnock 07/01/2009 11:00:23
Russia's only exports are it's natural resources and it can't even be trusted to maintain supply. Preferring to use it's only asset as a tool to intimidate the West.
With it's one party state, no manufactured goods that anybody wants and no free press it's a bit like the Saudi of the north.
The EU and the free world must ensure gazprom doesn't fulfill it's dream and start to buy up shares in our energy companies.
Then we would be in even more trouble.
3

TimW1234,

Ottawa, Canada 07/01/2009 11:12:18
#2 gordon's....

Is Russian Vodka an exportable "natural resource" within the terms of your definition?
4

gordon'sboomhasbust,

New Cumnock 07/01/2009 11:28:56
#3
Vodka is another asset that the state is trying to take back from private enterprise. This is well documented in the SPI Vodka wars.
Putin is keen to get all the brands back under state ownership.
5

Yok Finney,

Ross-shire 07/01/2009 12:04:51
-- The EU and the free world must ensure gazprom doesn't fulfill its dream and start to buy up shares in our energy companies.

In a free? world, shares are bought and sold. New Cummnock Inc (is this a sort of hedge fund?) could lose majority shareholding in "our energy companies".
6

,

07/01/2009 12:23:39
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
7

MyricaGale,

Angus 07/01/2009 12:37:40
Well said #1 ! Totally agree with your comments.

We should really have a number of Strategic industries which are entirely controlled by and owned within this country.

We have a nuclear industry owned by France, Banks owned by Spain, Extractive industries (quarrying) owned by France, Spain and other countries.
These have been allowed to be sold out by our politicians (of all parties).
Remember "Selling England By the Pound" by Genesis or "Parcel of Rogues in a nation" - seems like our politicians and industry leaders will prostitute themselves for any foreign gold. (Aside: Why isn't this form of prostitution also criminalised ??)

On religion - because we were covered in ice until relatively recently (geologically speaking) - there is NO native religion to the British Isles.....
8

Rulesbutnotrulers,

Federation, not separation 07/01/2009 12:42:37
#7 Myrica.

I don't have time to develop this, but we do have a native religion. It's called Druidry and flourished long before the Romans and then Christianity tried to wipe it out. It is not to be confused with those in fancy dress parading around Stonehenge, though!
9

mike3,

07/01/2009 12:57:06
I think new nuclear power plants are an absolute must for the UK for several reasons. The scandal is not about building them but about why it has taken so long to start.
10

ReadingPublic-2,

Northern Wisconsin 07/01/2009 13:03:34
#6 St Andrew 01
There are other forums that are allowing commenting.
One actually has a hook-up with some poor Palestinians in the war zone.
11

ReadingPublic-2,

Northern Wisconsin 07/01/2009 13:04:44
I knew this was going to happen when the EU allowed Russia to provide 40% of their gas and oil.
12

gordon'sboomhasbust,

New Cumnock 07/01/2009 13:05:47
#5 York
Shares in essential services such as gas are covered by reserve powers held by governments.
Gazprom recently attempted to buy UK gas company Centrica but this was blocked by the UK.
13

Lianachan,

Highlands 07/01/2009 13:06:32
#8 Hmm... How far do you want to take it back before it becomes "native", though? Do you claim that druidism originated in the British Isles? Was it not introduced from the continent, in the same way that other religious were subsequently? Is there evidence that druidism was observed all over the place? True, Pictish holy men were still referred to as "druid" by early christian sources - but is there much evidence that "druidism" was ubiquitous?
14

Pazuzu,

07/01/2009 13:15:50
Lianachan:

Look up - Sotion of Alexandria.
Check also Sumerians.
15

Finnking,

Lempäälä 07/01/2009 13:24:47
Well, that's one way to get Ukraine to pay its bills.

Ukraine's move towards joining the EU with the Association Agreement will be exploited by Russia; get the EU to force Ukraine's hand.

Strange article though; Ukraine (prospective NATO member) shuts off the gas supply to some European countries and the article blames Russia, a nation that needs to export it's gas to Europe.

So, blame Russia for something a prospective EU&NATO country is doing. Great stuff.

For better data on this affair there's a wiki entry with a map of the various gas lines. It shows other routes for gas to take but also explains the blockage in Ukraine and the history of the conflict.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia-Ukraine_gas_dispute

Aye, blame the commies! BTW: this Scotsman 'article' is mainly derived form a Telegraph article.
16

Lianachan,

Highlands 07/01/2009 13:25:29
#14 Yup, thanks, I know about Sotion, and about Sumer. Not exactly relevant to discussion about pre-historic British religion, though.
17

Craig New Town,

07/01/2009 13:30:28
"If Russia has cut off gas supplies to Europe then why not take advantage of this by substantially raising our export rates on gas and other fuels, now required by the EU? That would bring in the cash ending economic depression...."

what a plan lol
18

Finnking,

Lempäälä 07/01/2009 14:46:52
Title: "Russia cuts off gas supplies to Europe"

How about:

"Russia-Ukraine Gas conflict means reduced supply to some of Europe"

or, in accord with the evident propaganda line,

"Evil Barbarous Commie Ruskies want European Old Folk to Freeze to death this winter!", or....

"Putin eats cute puppies while he makes Europe freeze!"

Any others?

LOL
19

Phil Lawrence,

Tallinn 07/01/2009 15:01:19
In something very relevant to many of the readers of this forum the cut in gas supplies has today forced the shutdown of UBIG's loss-making Birac aluminium smelter in Bosnia. The country has no reserves of gas and Birac uses 25% of all imports which are exclusively sourced from the Russian Federation.

Not good news for UBIG and probably not creating too much excitement down Tynecastle way either.
20

materialise,

07/01/2009 15:09:51
Power supply is a weapon.

And I fear, even though it is a bitter pill to swallow we need to have nuclear power in order to safeguard and maintain a guaranteed energy supply for our people, homes and businesses.

The Ideological No Nuclear standpoint is understandable but as an ideal it could put Scotland at a real disadvantage for our future, both on a personal level and for business.

We need to be able to live, work and compete on a global stage, we are no different to any other country, we need to take care of ourselves and projections that wind, tidal or other cleaner alternatives, whilst laudable are far from proven over the long term.
21

Colin R,

Bearsden 07/01/2009 15:17:43
explain that you Lib Dem/Labour nutcases - Nuclear is the only way for energy security
22

bill-alba,

fife 07/01/2009 15:24:29
#20 it may be ideological that we have no nuclear it could also mean that we are putting ourselves at a great advantage by going green at both a personal level and for business..at the moment and into the far future Scotland has no requirement to import gas which it is an exporter of as well as exporting electricity so not ideological but practical and financially beneficial not to have nuclear.
23

mike3,

07/01/2009 15:34:30
...and English gas can only last so long..
24

The Strategist,

07/01/2009 15:46:31
Has anyone checked where Russia has its tanks? No doubt in my mind the spat with the Ukraine over gas supplies will lead to another Georgia type situation. I'm quite sure Putin will already be counting up how many ethnic Russians there in Georgia that need protecting.
25

Nevsky,,

Moscow 07/01/2009 15:58:58
The usual uniformed ramblings and paranoia on here. Going to save a few and show them to my Russian friends for a laugh!
26

Bele's bane,

Scotland 07/01/2009 16:26:28
What is the impediment people have developed regarding their failure to perceive that all that is required is for Ukraine to stop freeloading and pay up!

Russia, as usual, gets the blame for what is clearly its fault.
27

Bele's bane,

Scotland 07/01/2009 16:28:13
Post 26 correction

Apologies!


Please insert the word "not" after clearly in the last sentence of my post #26.
28

Orwhmale,

USA 07/01/2009 16:59:39
In the event you folks read nothing else you may want to broaden your horizons. We are in the middle of an economic world war and the goal here is the eventual regime changes in Russia (Mr. Putin and friends) and in China. It appears now that Putin and gang are in their final days as fuel prices decline (their only real source of capital income. This tactic caused the failure of the USSR not Regan. The west is taken a beating but appears poised to win the overall war. Be thankful. Now the Chinese are sweating as their growth rate has now turned for mid 20% to a negative this year. Their citizens have had the taste of freedom and exposure to the free world - how long do you think they will sit and not begin a democratic revolt?
Building nuclear power plants will further advance the failure of the string arm gang of Putin. Build them and people will use the power!
29

Itchy,

07/01/2009 18:32:45
#1 "Self reliance in food, defence, supplies and food is the ONLY sensible way for every nation.

UK should import nothing it can make or do for itself. That includes energy, food, labour and goods and services. Unemployment is impossible in such a scenario."

This is mince. Such a policy is a recipe for war and starvation.

BTW the intellectual architechts of Hitler's economic policy recommended making Germany as import-phobic as possible and a foreign policy of beating the daylights out of their neighbours. You have just advocated the first part of Hitler's policy.
30

Itchy,

07/01/2009 18:36:51
#18 Communists like you, and don't bother denying you are one, love killing people.
31

Jock Tamson,

Scotland, Caledonia, Alba 07/01/2009 19:03:03
I think Scotland should turn the oil off to England until we get the right recompense.
32

Vasya,

07/01/2009 19:46:06
#28
The easiest way to solve the problem would be if US supported with buck their anti-russian ambitions in Ukrain. But problem is that Ukrain is not a dwarf like Estonia. 40 mln is too much even for US.
#26 The problem is that Ukrain has no money to pay for gas. So they steal transit gas that Europe bought. Instead of working hard they sit and wait NATO and EU membership
33

Carolyn 1,

07/01/2009 21:55:22
So this global warming is convenient, otherwise we'd be facing a really cold winter.
That I canceled my trip to Austria is maybe a lucky break seeing how I've become accustomed to heat and light.

But, it's a good time to invest in EU energy companies, like Dutch Shell or BP, and hope they can quickly produce more supply and earn dividends for their investors while their at it. -

That this economic meltdown is going to last a long time, and those who were barely making will fall first, hard and fast is already happening, but hopefully not slide back into the hands of communist control. Now that it's happened, hindsight does us butkus.

As American Republicans like to say:
Get the greenies with their cease and desist orders out of the way, and lets find energy:
"All of the above" and Drill Baby Drill
(There's nothing as sweet as homegrown energy)
34

COLINTON.MAINS,

Oakville Ontario 07/01/2009 23:27:12
RUSSIA.is.still.a.country.that..would.stab.you.in.the.back
35

Mashimaro,

China 08/01/2009 00:44:14
#18 Well said. Putin, the child molester, Litvenenko killer, eats cute puppies and beats lobsters to death while he lets old folks in Europe freeze.

ah... the good old western media.

Maybe it should say the truth... Bill defaulter says Russia stops all gas flow through Ukraine piplines to Europe.

For those interesting this is what RIA Novosti has to say... [Gazprom chief Alexei] Miller reported the conclusion of an independent international company and Gazrpom monitors confirming that Kiev had stopped Russian gas supplies reaching European consumers via Ukraine.

oh...oops... seems like Kiev is the one doing the stopping
36

Mashimaro,

China 08/01/2009 00:49:53
#30 Would you like the explain the deaths by capitalism? Hmm? Conveniently forgetting about the millions the US policy puts into starvation each year.
37

Beachcomber,

Edinburgh 09/01/2009 16:07:57
From Today's Daily Express.
EU to grab UK gas.

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/79059/EU-will-grab-Britain-s-gas
38

Zyskandar A Jaimot,

Orlando, Fl. USA 17/01/2009 02:14:18
"Yes we have no bananas - We have no GAZ-bananas today!!!" Things are just the same in RUSSKYVILLE with 'MAD'VLAD the COMMIE CRAPSTER not giving the EU GAZ - just the COMMIE middle-finger salute. Low GAZ prices = no GAZ from 'MAD'VLAD+his COMMIE THUGSTERS/BOYCHEKISTS!!! 'MAD'VLAD says i have GAZ - but the EU first has to beg and pay me more. Ah free-trade ain't it grand.

 

Comment on this Story

 

In order to post comments you must Register or Sign In

 
 
RSS Feed of this article's comments
Delivery formats: RSS, Atom, Javascript & Email
 
  

 
 

More International

More International >>

More Russia

More Russia >>

Features

Dating
Free financial brochures & guides Dionami
Scotsman Digital Archive

Featured Advertising



Sister Newspapers:
Press Complaints Commission

This website and its associated newspaper adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then contact the Editor by clicking here.

If you remain dissatisfied with the response provided then you can contact the PCC by clicking here.