Energy Corridors Review
Russia
Financial or Production Shortages of SOCAR?: Backstage of Recent Gas Deal with Russia’s Gazprom
Credit: gazprom.com
Despite other South Caucasus countries (Armenia and Georgia), Azerbaijan is not dependent on natural gas import from the third countries, as it is energy-independent due to its vast energy resources. Whereas, until 2007, Azerbaijan was importing Russian natural gas for its domestic consumption. Continue reading
Greece appeared a “Gordian Knot” for Azerbaijan’s SOCAR
Credit: http://www.telegraph.co.uk
Background
On 21 June 2013, the Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR has won the tender to acquire the 66% share of the Greece’s Hellenic Gas Transmission System Operator (DESFA), which operates country’s gas transmission pipelines and distribution networks. The purchase accelerated the Shah Deniz Consortium’s decision on the final leg of the Southern Gas Corridor, by choosing the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline against the Nabucco-West, while SOCAR acquired 20% in TAP. Continue reading
Removal of sanctions from Iran: What does it promise for the Southern Gas Corridor?
Source: http://www.nbcnews.com
Developments in the international relations system are unpredictable. It rapidly shifts from one phase to another, from cooperation to conflict or vice versa. The new alteration in the international order will be the Iran-West rapprochement, which has been initially observed following the interim nuclear agreement in November 2013 between Iran and P5+1 countries Continue reading
Repercussions of Turkish Stream for Southern Gas Corridor: Russia’s New Gas Strategy
Photo credit: Business Insider
Background
On December 1 2014, during his official visit to Turkey, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the suspension of South Stream, blaming the EU for its “unconstructive” position. In fact, the realization of pipeline had become untenable as a result of various legal, political and financial issues, such as the EU’s Third Energy Package, the Ukraine crisis and the ensuing sanctions over companies involved in South Stream (Stroytransgaz and Gazprombank). Continue reading
Gas Policy of Greece under New Government: Russia, Turkic Stream and Diversification
Credit: thepeopledemand.org
Russia and Turkic Stream
After the collapse of the USSR, Russia’s new political elite of early 1990s emerged with its liberal orientation, Euro-Atlantic integration aspirations and opposition to supporting anti-western governments. Whereas, Russia after 2000s under Vladimir Putin’s leadership pursued absolutely different path. Alongside with foreign policy, Russian natural gas policy is remembered mostly with gas crisis, gas cut-offs and monopoly of Gazprom in the neighboring European countries. Continue reading
The New Greek Government: Implications for Azerbaijan’s DESFA Purchase
Click photo to get PDF version of article from CCEE
Background
The victory of the leftist Syriza party in the recent Greek elections was largely welcomed by Moscow, not because the party’s policies are radically pro-Russian, but rather because its leadership has stated its resistance to a number of Brussels-led policies. In this sense there is a similarity to certain other European political parties in the EU member states, such as Jobbik (Hungary), National Front (France), and the National Democratic Party (Germany). Continue reading
In the Search of New Partners: Putin’s Turkic Stream for Turkey
Photo credit: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com
Background
Turkey is blessed by its geographical position with its geographical excellence on the crossroads of Balkans, Middle East and Caucasus, while cursed by its rogue neighbors. Turkish-Russian relations rely on more than 500 years historical background, where both were at the odds to gain leadership, spread their influences in the region. Continue reading
Who buried South Stream and Why?: EU or Russia?
Source: Facebook page of Russian MFA
Zbigniew Brzezinski had once described Russia’s energy policy as an initiative “to separate the Central Europe from the Western Europe”; something able to divide Member States’ solidarity on the EU and NATO’s potential enlargement in the post-soviet space. Therefore, the EU was not happy leading its member states’ ‘preferential relationship’ with Russia, notably on the South Stream. Continue reading
Implications of the Demise of South Stream for Southern Gas Corridor
Though, Nabucco was not beginning of energy history in the region, but everything started with Nabucco. Nabucco appeared as a main project of East-West energy corridor, which is planned to be merged with South Caucasus and Trans-Caspian gas pipelines and to be laid down across Turkish and Balkan territories to Central Europe. Continue reading
Never-ending Story of the Caspian: Legal Status, Astrakhan Summit and not only
Photo credit: http://www.prezident.az
Introduction
The history of legal status of the Caspian is not a new issue, as it laid down in normative agenda of littoral states since Soviet era, even before the Soviet Union. Initial destiny of the Caspian has been defined through, Petersburg, Resht, Gulustan and Turkmenchay treaties, as well as ‘Treaty of Friendship’ and ‘Treaty of Commerce and Navigation’, between Russia and Iran (then USSR and Persia respectively). Continue reading
Legal knot in the Caspian Sea: Hard to Untie
When Vladimir Putin called the collapse of the Soviet Unions as a biggest geopolitical catastrophe, he meant a lot. Therefore, when Putin first came to power, he tried restore Russia’s lost image and political strength in order to carry out ‘therapy for geopolitical catastrophe’. The disintegration of the USSR left dozen of problems and legacy behind, one of which was the legal regime of the Caspian Sea. Continue reading
The Militarization of the Caspian Sea is Inevitable: Cooperation is Needed
There is a strong linkage between energy and security. It can be a factor both for cooperation and conflicts, namely it can push forward for cooperation between two states, while at the same time can create tension between them. This tendency can be applied to Caspian Sea, which contains one of the largest oil and gas areas of the world. The energy diplomacy has been key factor for the political and economic development of Caspian states. Continue reading
Energy Conflicts in the Energy Sub-Hubs of Eurasia: How to get rid of it?
Eurasia, where focused most of the geopolitical theories, experienced numerous wars, conflicts, revolutions, and chaos and became a candidate for aforementioned tendencies. The main object for wars and conflicts were “to capture more territories” and “enlargement”, while main politics was “divide, share and conquer”. Continue reading
Between TAP and Nabucco: Who is the “WINNER” of pipeline selection? – Azerbaijan or Russia?
Today, every new pipeline changes the market and geopolitics of region. Two months ago, the final decision, made by Shah Deniz Consortium, suprised many people. The competition for which pipeline will deliver Azeri gas to Europe is “Almost” over. Shah Deniz Consortium opted Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) which will be connected with Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at Turkish-Greek border, although, Nabucco-West has strongly and diplomatically supported by European Union and United States. Continue reading
Armenia is still a “Forpost”, but Azerbaijan is getting “New Choice” for Russia
On August 13, Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a one-day working visit to Azerbaijan. During visit, presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia discussed a wide range of bilateral issues (trade, energy and transportation), including the legal status of the Caspian Sea and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement. It’s the first visit of Vladimir Putin to Azerbaijan after his third presidency.
Armenia as a Strategic Satellite of Russia in the South Caucasus
Click for scanned original article at: Armenia as a Strategic Satellite of Russia in the South Caucasus
As one of the most landlocked countries in the world, Armenia lacks both natural resources and access to the sea. This has led to the country reinforcing its strategic alliance with Russia. Unless Armenia breaks from its dependence on Russia and makes a constructive step in the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, it will find itself becoming more isolated from its neighbours. Continue reading
Russian-EU Energy Relations: from Cooperation toward Contradictions
Following World War II, it was necessary to take new economic steps in order to overcome political problems among European countries. Establishment of the European Steel and Coal Community, the European Atomic Energy Community and the European Economic Community formed the/an/new European energy policy. Continue reading
Пост-Шах Дениз II Период: Проблемы, с которыми Азербайджан может столкнуться.
Click for English version: Post-Shah Deniz II Period: Challenges that Azerbaijan may face
Известно, что в конце июля Азербайджан собирается принять окончательное решение в выборе газопровода: Nabucco West или Транс-Адриатический газопровод (TAP) для того, чтобы соединиться с Транс-Анатолийским газопроводом (TANAP) и для транспортировки Каспийского природного газа в Европу. Правительство Азербайджана может столкнуться с некоторыми проблемами, особенно в преддверии предстоящих президентских выборов. Continue reading
Post-Shah Deniz II Period: Challenges that Azerbaijan may face
Advantages and disadvantages of TAP and Nabucco West
That is not secret that, Azerbaijan is going to make its final decision in late June whether to choose Nabucco West or Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) in order to connect with Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) for transportation of Caspian natural gas to Europe. However, the questions will not be solved only after pipeline decision. Azerbaijani government may face some challenges, notably in the eve of upcoming presidential elections. Continue reading
Energy in Russian Foreign Policy: Soft Power, Hard Power, or Smart Power?
The Glasnost and Perestroika policy of Michael Gorbachov played a crucial role in demolition of Eastern block and Berlin Wall and this policy resulted with the collapse of Soviet Union in December of 1991. The biggest heir of the USSR was Russia. Following the collapse of USSR, the main goal of Russia was to gain its lost reputation and global player role. His best assistants in the implementation of these goals were the Kremlin and Gazprom, including his vast amount of energy resources. [5, Beniamin & Cosmin, pg.44] Continue reading
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