"Gazprom" will soften the terms of contracts with European customers

In the near future, the Russian gas giant may alleviate the conditions of gas supplies to Europe and Turkey. Turkey is relatively simple enough - "Gazprom" to obtain permission for laying the South Stream pipeline on Turkish territory, the bottom of the Black Sea. Therefore the norms of the minimum amount of gas that must be selected user, decrease significantly to the country. Also note that last autumn, all the major contractors in Europe appealed to the leadership kotserna asking about lowering the minimum level of gas prices and bind to the spot market. Sales of "Gazprom" in Europe last year fell by 11.7% and export revenues for the first time is lower than the revenue from the domestic market and was about 40 billion to 64 billion dollars in 2008. In many ways, this situation is associated with an increased supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Africa and Asia to Europe, as well as lower spot prices. For example, in December 2009, the spot price for gas in Germany, more than 1.5 times that of the price of "Gazprom" - 174 USD per thousand cu. meters compared to 270 dollars. The greatest consumers, such as Germany, Italy, Turkey, accounting for exactly half of export sales of "Gazprom" in Europe, was asked to reduce the minimum level of gas for three to six years. And "Gazprom" have to make concessions in the coming years the minimum level of selection will be reduced from approximately 85% to 15%.