DespiteBorders

Repeated dispute over earth gas between Ukraine and the Russian Federation

Autor: Peter Ševce, 09.01.2009

Like in recent years, relations between the Russian Federation (RF) and Ukraine ended in stalemate also this time at the turn of years. This yearʼs earth gas dispute has been lasting the longest and is at the same time the most dramatic one. Concurrently, itʼs marked by traditional statements about both sides fulfilling their commitments to consumers and blaming each other. The perfect image of relations is completed by the gas volume flowing into consumer countries because this isn’t agreed on contractually…

Combined cycle in Bratislava. Source: www.paroplyn.sk

Magazine 2/2008

Gas power plants as a part of the energy mix of the Slovak Republic

Autor: Peter Ševce, 17.11.2008

Recently, there have been several intentions to construct earth gas power plants announced in Slovakia. Among them are concrete intentions as well as preliminary information on their position and output. This development stands for new challenge for the country because their conduction will have to be included in the energy mix and several questions linked with them will have to be solved. The Slovak Republic committed itself within the EU…

The Baku - Tbilisi - Ceyhan pipeline. Source: www.economist.com

Economy · Politics

Magazine 2/2008

Crisis in Georgia and its impact on the EU energy security

Autor: Peter Ševce, 15.09.2008

Every conflict has various causes, and the participating countries choose the most appropriate form them. It is the same for the 5 day war between the Russian Federation (RF) and Georgia in August 2008. Despite the fact that energy was not in the center of the attention, nor among the named causes of the attack of Georgia on the South Ossetia or the retaliatory reaction of the RF…

The importance of gas trading hubs for Slovakia

Autor: Peter Ševce, 24.07.2008

The establishment of a single European natural gas market has been the objective of the European Commission (EC) for a long time. This objective is embodied primarily in liberalisation efforts the last result of which was introduced in September 2007 in terms of the third liberalisation package proposal. The EC started making these efforts in the 1990’s when Europe began to perceive shortages within the existent…

Director of Gas Research at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies Jonathan Stern

Economy · Interviews · Politics

Russia-Ukraine gas dispute was not the biggest threat to EU energy security: The Director of Gas Research at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies Jonathan Stern

Autor: Peter Ševce, 31.05.2008

Jonathan Stern is the Director of Gas Research at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. He is also Honorary Professor at the University of Dundee and the Chairman of the British Institute of Energy Economics. His research area includes natural gas issues, the liberalisation and deregulation of energy market, Russian and CIS energy policy. At the beginning, I’d like to ask you one theoretical question…

Politics

The New Cold War: how the Kremlin menaces Russia and the West

Autor: Peter Ševce, 24.05.2008

Edward Lucas is a correspondent for the British weekly The Economist. He focuses on the countries stretching from the Baltic to the Black Sea. He speaks fluently four languages: English, German, Polish and Russian. He has been covering the region since 1986. He monitored the fall of the Iron Curtain in the former Czechoslovakia. In the period from 1998 to 2002, he headed The Economist bureau in Moscow…

Gas pipeline. Source: http://international.ibox.bg

Economy · Politics

Joint European energy policy: Which to choose?

Autor: Peter Ševce, 10.03.2008

The events of February 2008 begged the question whether the European Union (EU) is capable of agreeing on common policy which would be advantageous for new member states in particular. The answer is “not”.The first proof was the negotiation for the cancellation of visa for the citizens of the Czech Republic when visiting the US. The Czech Republic asked the EU for help as early as three years ago…

Priority projects of energy networks in the EU

The liberalisation of internal energy market in the EU

Autor: Peter Ševce, 08.02.2008

In September 2007, the European Commission introduced the third package of legislative proposals aimed at the EU internal energy market and his further liberalisation. In the centre of the Commission’s attention are primarily wider possibility for the consumer to choose a supplier, fairer prices, environment-friendly energy production and the security of supplies.The reason for the introduction…

The gas map of Europe

Autor: Peter Ševce, 08.01.2008

The recent period of time is fraught with diverse surmises concerning the new gas pipeline routes. Each of these proposed routes is connected with its own history and issues which may lead to surprising twists. From the geographical point of view, the routes are oriented towards the north and south of Europe, i.e. the territory which the new pipelines will lead through. It is justified by the growing gas…

Nabucco gas pipeline project. Source: www.nabucco-pipeline.com

Magazine 2/2007