Russia’s Gazprom says H1 gas exports to Europe fell 18 per cent
The sharp decline makes its harder for Gazprom to reach its target of more 166.6 bcm in exports this year, as gas demand has been depressed due the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic
MOSCOW: Natural gas exports from Russia‘s Gazprom to Europe, including Turkey, fell 18 per cent in the first half of the year to 78.94 billion cubic metres from 96.43 bcm a year earlier, the company reported on Thursday.
The sharp decline makes its harder for Gazprom to reach its target of more 166.6 bcm in exports this year, as gas demand has been depressed due the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
Gazprom also faces rivalry from other sources of gas, such as sea-borne liquefied natural gas. Last year, Gazprom’s gas exports to Europe, where it accounts for around 35 per cent of the gas market, reached 199.2 bcm.
The company has said it expected European gas demand to start recovering from the third quarter.
Gazprom said on Thursday in its report under Russian Accounting Standards, that its gas supplies to China, started in December 2019, reached 1.57 bcm in January-June.
Grounded ship emptied of oil, but heavy damage for Mauritius
Nearly all the 3,000 tons of fuel left on the MV Wakashio has been emptied from the vessel stranded on a coral reef, the ship owners confirmed.
Johannesburg: Almost all the remaining oil has been pumped from a Japanese ship that ran aground off Mauritius, but its initial spill of 1,000 tons of fuel has severely damaged the Indian Ocean island’s coral reefs and once pristine coast, environmental groups said Thursday. Nearly all the 3,000 tons of fuel left on the MV Wakashio has been emptied from the vessel stranded on a coral reef, the ship owners confirmed.
Widening cracks in the ship’s hull show that it might break up, but with little fuel remaining, further environmental damage is expected to be limited.
“Today we can confirm that there is just a small amount of oil left on the ship. We are not threatened with an even worse disaster,” Jean Hugue Gardenne, communications manager for the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, told The Associated Press.
“However, make no mistake, the damage that has been done already is substantial. There is considerable clean-up work that must be done urgently,” Gardenne said. “The damage to the coral reefs may be irreversible.”
Owner Nagashiki Shipping said in a statement that “residual” amounts of fuel remain on the ship. The company has sent experts to help in cleaning up the damage.
“We will continue to do our utmost to minimize the impact of oil spill recovery and environmental pollution,” said representative director Kiyoaki Nagashiki, a statement said.
