Russia may send natural gas supplies to Pakistani markets in long term: Russian Deputy PM

According to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, Moscow is ready to resume gas supplies to Europe via the Yamal-Europe Pipeline and can also send supplies to Pakistan and Afghanistan in the long term.

“The European market remains relevant, as the gas shortage persists, and we have every opportunity to resume supplies,” TASS cited Novak as saying in remarks published by the agency on Sunday.

“For example, the Yamal-Europe Pipeline, which was stopped for political reasons, remains unused.”

The Yamal-Europe Pipeline normally flows westward, but it has been mostly reversed since December 2021, when Poland chose to draw on stored gas in Germany rather than buy from Russia.

Warsaw canceled its arrangement with Russia in May, after previously rejecting Moscow’s demand that it pay in roubles.

Gazprom, Russia’s largest supplier, responded by cutting off supply and announcing that it would no longer be allowed to export gas through Poland after Moscow slapped sanctions on the company that operates the Polish section of the Yamal-Europe pipeline.

Novak also stated that Moscow is exploring increased gas deliveries via Turkey following the establishment of a hub there.

He also stated that by 2022, Moscow intends to have exported 21 billion cubic meters (bcm) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe.

“This year we were able to significantly increase LNG supplies to Europe,” Novak said. “In the 11 months of 2022, they increased to 19.4 bcm, by the end of the year 21 bcm are expected.”

Novak also stated, in a wide-ranging interview with the TASS news agency, that in the long run, Russia can provide natural gas to the markets of Afghanistan and Pakistan, either through Central Asian infrastructure or through an exchange from Iranian territory.

He also stated that Russia and Azerbaijan have agreed to enhance gas supplies for domestic usage.

“In the future, when they increase gas production, we will be able to discuss swaps,” he said.

Moscow is also discussing higher supplies of its gas to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, he said.