Gazprom Trials German Gas Auction

摘要

Russian state run giant Gazprom will next month auction 3.24 billion cubic meters (114 billion cubic feet) of gas at four delivery points in Germany, which if successful would add to European supply this winter (WGI Apr.29' 15). Various reasons have been advanced for the move. Historically, its sales to Europe have been price-linked to oil — which was fine when oil cost over $100 per barrel, but not so good at $50-$60/ bbl — so the auctions nay be part of efforts to trial alternative pricing mechanisms (WGI Jul.8'15). They could also be Gazprom's way of trying to reach an amicable settlement in an EU antitrust case to which the company is supposed to respond formally by early September (WGI Apr.29' 15).