{"id":111182,"date":"2024-11-19T12:29:18","date_gmt":"2024-11-19T08:29:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abcmedia.am\/?p=111182"},"modified":"2024-11-19T14:22:51","modified_gmt":"2024-11-19T10:22:51","slug":"controversial-swap-deal-russian-gas-may-flow-to-europe-rebranded-as-azerbaijani","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/abcmedia.am\/en\/politics\/111182\/","title":{"rendered":"Controversial ‘swap deal’: Russian gas may flow to Europe rebranded as Azerbaijani"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Russian gas could keep flowing into Europe next year under a controversial “swap deal” in which the Kremlin’s fossil fuels would be rebranded as Azerbaijani, The Telegraph<\/a> writes.<\/p>\n

Despite the war, Moscow still pays Kyiv £634 million a year to transmit gas to Europe via Ukraine. However, this agreement is set to expire at the end of next month.<\/p>\n

In Azerbaijan, which is currently hosting the Cop29 climate summit, talks are under way that would see its state energy company, Socar, step in as a middleman when the transit deal ends.<\/p>\n

Under the proposed scheme – one of several being considered – gas from Gazprom, Moscow’s gas giant, would be rebranded as Azerbaijani, with equivalent volumes of Baku’s gas labeled as Russian.<\/p>\n

The scheme would mean that European companies could sign contracts with Azerbaijan for Russian gas, but wouldn’t have to deal with Russians.<\/p>\n

Both the EU and Ukraine are adamant they will not renew the current deal with Russia.<\/p>\n

“It’s very difficult to say what the most likely deal will be, but ultimately it is Ukraine who decides. Ukraine has to sign a transit agreement,” said Ugnė Keliauskaitė, an energy research analyst at Bruegel.<\/p>\n

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev also said he had been approached by Ukraine and the EU for assistance in maintaining gas transit via Ukraine.<\/p>\n

“Europe still does not have the ability, or political will, to move away from Russian gas before 2027,” said Thierry Bros, a professor at Sciences Po Paris and a contributor to Natural Gas World. “Putin still has the ability to create volatility and push prices higher.” Bros believes Russia may delay a deal in order to exert pressure on Europe, or push up prices.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"