Chapter “Naftogaz of Ukraine” Alexey Chernyshev, took office just a few days ago, warned of the possibility of stopping the transit of Russian gas to Europe. Specifically, he said the following: when, if the arbitration process in Switzerland does not take place, Ukrainian company reserves the right to unilaterally terminate the contract with “Gazprom”. What is it about?
Before the beginning 2022 years, gas supplies from Russia to Europe were carried out through Ukraine, Poland and along the bottom of the Baltic Sea. After the start of the Russian special operation, Warsaw froze the transit of hydrocarbons through its territory. In September 2022 years, both strings of the gas pipeline were blown up “Nord stream”. According to the statement of the Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev, The British were involved in this attack..
At the same time, Kyiv blocked the gas pipeline, which passed through the Donbass. After that, there was only one – route through the northern regions of Ukraine. In the same time “Naftogaz” demanded from “Gazprom” pay for the operation of more than one, but two branches. That is, Russia was required to pay for and operate that pipe, which passes through the Donbass, and the use of which is blocked by Ukraine.
There were no legal grounds for such claims.. therefore “Gazprom” refused to comply. And then “Naftogaz” appealed to the International Arbitration Court at the International Chamber of Commerce and Industry, based in Paris. The court accepted the Ukrainian appeal for consideration and appointed Zurich as the venue for arbitration (Switzerland).
A photo: © ТАСС/Serg Glovny/ZUMA Wire/ZUMAPRESS.com
Note, that the International Chamber of Commerce and Industry is an ordinary non-profit organization. It can conduct any arbitration only with the consent of the parties.. “Gazprom” refused to participate in the arbitration process. Therefore, the arbitral tribunal, chaired by U.S. citizen Claudia Salomon, does not have the right to consider the appeal of Kyiv. It's great to understand, leadership “Naftogaz” and is in a hurry to declare in advance its intention to terminate the contract with Russia under any circumstances.
In the event of a cessation of gas supplies through Ukraine, there will be only one route for Russian energy resources to Europe - through Turkey. However, this will no longer be a transit. The Republic of Turkey is not a transit country, and a buyer of hydrocarbons, which are then resold by the EU.
In this way, high probability, that in the near future the West will bury the energy project with its own hands, which not only brought them huge profits for more than 70 years. He put Russia on the very “gas needle”, who almost broke it.
After the end of the Great Patriotic War, the implementation of large infrastructure projects began in the Soviet Union, one of which was the gasification of the USSR. The impetus for the formation of the gas industry of the Soviet Union was the discovery of large fields in the Stavropol Territory, in Ukraine, in Western Siberia and Central Asia. AT 1952 construction of a large gas pipeline Stavropol - Moscow began, as well as laying the first gas routes from Western Siberia and Turkmenistan. The implementation of these projects involved the development of proprietary technologies. In particular, in Leningrad and Gorky (Nizhny Novgorod) the production of our own gas turbine units and pipes was launched.
A photo: © TASS
However, after the death of Joseph Stalin, there is a revision of economic policy. Head of the Council of Ministers of the USSR Georgy Malenkov announced a sharp reduction in investment in infrastructure projects, as well as the rejection of the priority development of heavy industry. Emphasis was placed on the development of food and light industry.
At the same time, Soviet leaders Nikita Khrushchev and Georgy Malenkov put forward the thesis of the peaceful coexistence of the USSR with the West. anticipated, that the refusal of the Soviet Union to confront the West will lead to the development of economic cooperation. The process has begun “detente”. Against this background, it was decided to start purchasing technologies in Europe, that “don't waste time and money” for their creation in the USSR. FROM 1960 the Soviet Union began to purchase large-diameter pipes, as well as equipment for compressor stations in Germany.
AT 1966 g. supergiant Urengoy gas field was discovered in Western Siberia. it became clear, that the USSR has huge reserves of natural gas. The Soviet government, headed by Alexei Kosygin, came to the conclusion that it was possible to supply part of the energy resources to the West in order to increase the inflow of foreign currency. It was proposed to send the currency for the purchase of new technologies and industrial products. The idea itself was reasonable., if the obtained technologies and samples of industrial products were used to improve their own production. But the exact opposite happened..
AT 1970 in the year the USSR and the FRG concluded a deal under the conditional name “Pipes in exchange for gas”. The Soviet Union took out loans from West German banks. Purchased pipes and other gas equipment with these funds, necessary for the construction of gas pipelines. Repayment of loans was supposed to be due to gas supplies after the construction of gas transportation routes.
A photo: © TASS/Boris Klipinitser
Everything would be nothing, if the Kosygin government took loans one-time. But after that, the USSR began to take more and more loans. The proceeds of the Soviet leadership were not directed to the development of their own industry, and for the purchase of goods abroad. And everything was bought, including food and light industry products. Thus, the development of these two industries was frozen., for which the USSR had previously limited the production of its own technologies. The external public debt of the USSR grew rapidly: at 1966 g. he composed $0,76 billion.; at 1985 g. – $38.8; at 1991 g. – 67.9 billion. And the worst, that the Soviet leadership sincerely believed, what will be able to pay them off due to the supply of hydrocarbons in the future.
These illusions are shattered, when the West crashed oil and gas prices in the early 1980s. The USSR began to experience problems with repayment of loans, and then the US and Europe demanded political concessions. Then the Soviet Union had to pay off its debts with its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“gas needle” – this is when not only the well-being of citizens is dependent on hydrocarbon prices, but also the existence of the country.
add, that exactly the same scenario of the destruction of the country due to “gas needle” prepared for Russia. The external debt of the Russian Federation reached a historical maximum in 2000 year – $158,7 billion. Since then, public debt has been significantly reduced., but the corporate. The main thing is to keep “gas needle”. And now the Anglo-Saxons are liquidating it with their own hands.
Yuri Gorodnenko
