Russia, Austria vow to improve strategic energy ties by Daniel J. Graeber Washington (UPI) Jun 1, 2018 Marking 50 years of collaboration, Russian energy company Gazprom and Austria's OMV vowed to work toward a new level of strategic cooperation. The Russian energy company and OMV signed their first agreement for Russian gas deliveries to the Austrian market on this date in 1968. With that agreement, Austria because the first country in Western Europe to sign a contract with what was then the Soviet Union. Over the last 50 years, gas exports to Austria have increased more than 64-fold. "We continue to work towards strengthening and advancing this relationship while meeting Europe's growing demand for natural gas," Gazprom Chairman Alexei Miller said in a statement. "We plan to reach a new level of strategic cooperation in the near future." The top brass at the Russian natural gas company met last month in Moscow with their counterparts from OMV, noting Russian gas shipments to Austria are already up more than 70 percent from last year. For the broader market, the European economy is fed primarily by Russian and Norwegian supplies, respectively. Gazprom plans to double the twin Nord Stream network through the Baltic Sea to Germany and OMV, a partner in the project, said the network is of strategic importance because it will secure consistent natural gas supplies to Europe. Much of the Soviet-era pipelines to the European market run through Ukraine, where conflict exposes regional energy security to risk. Nord Stream avoids Ukrainian territory. "In the past 50 years we have received reliable gas supplies from Russia and have been able to provide our industrial and household customers with high quality natural gas without interruption," OMV Chairman Rainer Seele said. "This is a good base for expanding the partnership with Gazprom long term." Nord Stream could be the target of U.S. sanctions against Russian companies. The U.S. State Department said that any company that engages in the Nord Stream project could run afoul of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, which imposed sanctions last year on Iran, Russia, and North Korea. Most of the companies involved in Nord Stream counter that they're in the business of selling gas, not playing geopolitical games.
'Mission impossible' for US cities that want to respect Paris climate deal Philadelphia (AFP) June 1, 2018 When President Donald Trump announced the US exit from the Paris climate deal one year ago, the mayor of Philadelphia was among those who vowed to keep carrying the torch. "Philly is committed to upholding at (the) local level the same commitment made by the US in the Paris climate agreement," tweeted the sixth largest US city's mayor, Jim Kenney, a Democrat. Since then, the City of Brotherly Love has cut energy consumption in municipal buildings, started replacing street lamps with LED lights, ... read more
|
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us. |