Comments on: Stop Enabling Russia’s Energy Empire http://blog.heritage.org/2009/01/06/stop-enabling-russias-energy-empire/ Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:38:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Edward Foster http://blog.heritage.org/2009/01/06/stop-enabling-russias-energy-empire/#comment-12407 Edward Foster Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:24:21 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/2009/01/06/stop-enabling-russias-energy-empire/#comment-12407 What Anthony fails to mention is that the Ukraine is willing to pay more for Russian gas if Russia agrees to raise the transport fees it pays Ukraine to transport Russian gas to Western Europe. There are two sides to the story: Russia owns the gas; the Ukraine owns the means to get it to Western Europe! What Anthony fails to mention is that the Ukraine is willing to pay more for Russian gas if Russia agrees to raise the transport fees it pays Ukraine to transport Russian gas to Western Europe. There are two sides to the story: Russia owns the gas; the Ukraine owns the means to get it to Western Europe!

]]> By: Russ Dallen Sr, Detr http://blog.heritage.org/2009/01/06/stop-enabling-russias-energy-empire/#comment-12394 Russ Dallen Sr, Detr Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:37:36 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/2009/01/06/stop-enabling-russias-energy-empire/#comment-12394 Here in Michigan the gas pipelines give free gas to the owners of the land they have to cross. This also gives the gas co's the right to enter to repair the pipeline if necessary. Here in Michigan the gas pipelines give free gas to the owners of the land they have to cross. This also gives the gas co's the right to enter to repair the pipeline if necessary.

]]> By: Anthony, US http://blog.heritage.org/2009/01/06/stop-enabling-russias-energy-empire/#comment-12309 Anthony, US Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:01:46 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/2009/01/06/stop-enabling-russias-energy-empire/#comment-12309 Err, just where does the 'aggressive Moscow' come in again? Let's restate the facts: 1) Gazprom has been selling gas to Ukraine at a substantially reduced rate for years. To put it in layman's terms, Gazprom has been subsidizing the Ukrainian economy. The reduced money inflow decreases both Gazprom's earnings and Russia's tax collections, something neither Gazprom nor Russia can afford in these economic conditions. And we should not expect them to, even if the economic conditions were good. 2) Gazprom is paying $340 per 1000 cms of gas to Central Asian suppliers. Ukraine wants to pay no more than $201 for this same gas. In layman's terms, Ukraine makes the absurd suggestion that Gazprom should sell it gas for less than it buys it for. 3) Gazprom made an offer to sell gas to Ukraine for $250 per 1000 cms. Putin called this a 'humanitarian' gesture to Ukraine. I don't think you can call it anything else. Ukraine refused, and started its annual tantrum. 4) Not content with making absurd suggestions that Gazprom 'sell' it gas for a ridiculous price, Ukraine did not pay for the gas it consumed in the last months of 2008. I don't know about Ms Sally, but in my neighborhood, if I don't pay for my gas, the utility company will shut it off. While it looks like Ukraine finally coughed up some of the money, it refuses to pay late fees for the delayed payments. Again, in my neck of the woods, if I don't make a payment on time, my utility company will assess late payment charges. 5) On Jan 1, Gazprom stopped supplying gas to Ukraine given that the Ukrainians don't have a contract to buy gas. The Ukrainians then started stealing gas meant for Europe. Where I come from, if I steal something that belongs to somebody else, I go to jail. And the people I stole from are considered my victims. For sure, nobody would label them 'aggressive' for demanding their property back. In conclusion, what Europe needs to do is to stop enabling parasite countries like Ukraine to hold it hostage, and speed up the Nord Stream and South Stream pipelines that bypass these countries and bring Russian gas directly to Western Europe without holding it hostage to the parasite's whims. Err, just where does the 'aggressive Moscow' come in again?

Let's restate the facts:

1) Gazprom has been selling gas to Ukraine at a substantially reduced rate for years. To put it in layman's terms, Gazprom has been subsidizing the Ukrainian economy. The reduced money inflow decreases both Gazprom's earnings and Russia's tax collections, something neither Gazprom nor Russia can afford in these economic conditions. And we should not expect them to, even if the economic conditions were good.

2) Gazprom is paying $340 per 1000 cms of gas to Central Asian suppliers. Ukraine wants to pay no more than $201 for this same gas. In layman's terms, Ukraine makes the absurd suggestion that Gazprom should sell it gas for less than it buys it for.

3) Gazprom made an offer to sell gas to Ukraine for $250 per 1000 cms. Putin called this a 'humanitarian' gesture to Ukraine. I don't think you can call it anything else. Ukraine refused, and started its annual tantrum.

4) Not content with making absurd suggestions that Gazprom 'sell' it gas for a ridiculous price, Ukraine did not pay for the gas it consumed in the last months of 2008. I don't know about Ms Sally, but in my neighborhood, if I don't pay for my gas, the utility company will shut it off. While it looks like Ukraine finally coughed up some of the money, it refuses to pay late fees for the delayed payments. Again, in my neck of the woods, if I don't make a payment on time, my utility company will assess late payment charges.

5) On Jan 1, Gazprom stopped supplying gas to Ukraine given that the Ukrainians don't have a contract to buy gas. The Ukrainians then started stealing gas meant for Europe. Where I come from, if I steal something that belongs to somebody else, I go to jail. And the people I stole from are considered my victims. For sure, nobody would label them 'aggressive' for demanding their property back.

In conclusion, what Europe needs to do is to stop enabling parasite countries like Ukraine to hold it hostage, and speed up the Nord Stream and South Stream pipelines that bypass these countries and bring Russian gas directly to Western Europe without holding it hostage to the parasite's whims.

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