Lithuania steps forward as whistleblower in Gazprom row

Lithuania has stepped forward to denounce pressure from Gazprom after the European Commission yesterday opened a formal antitrust investigation against the Russian gas monopoly for allegedly hindering competition in Central and Eastern European gas markets.

The Commission named eight countries – Poland, The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – as markets where sufficient elements were available to open an antitrust inquiry against Gazprom.

Additional countries could be investigated later on if new elements come to the surface, the EU Executive indicated.

Antoine Colombani, spokesman for EU Competition Commissioner Joaquín Almunia, listed the Commission's concerns about Gazprom in general terms:

• Agreements obstructing the passage of gas from one country to another;
• Practices that hamper diversification of natural gas supplies; and
• Abusive prices, and indexation of gas prices to the price of oil.

Diplomatic language

Asked whether some of the practices involved pressure by Gazprom on individual countries to obstruct pipeline projects aimed at bringing gas from sources other than Russia – such as the Nabucco project –, Colombani answered in diplomatic terms:

“We look at conditions, applied by Gazprom, which may impede the diversification of sources of supply, that relate to the use of infrastructure, and that could encompass existing or future infrastructure. This is not related to one specific project.”

Colombani said that the probes had been launched following an official complaint by Lithuania and a result of signals confirmed by “market players”.

In the meantime, the Government of Lithuania issued an official statement, welcoming the Commission’s move.

"Reports on antitrust investigations only confirm the matters which we have repeatedly spotlighted. We can only reaffirm that Lithuania addressed the EC Competition Directorate back in the spring of 2011", Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius stated.

According to Lithuania’s Ministry of Energy this investigation is a clear demonstration of “principled EU energy policy”.

"Unfair gas prices, economic and political pressure, anti-competitive actions. We have experienced all this only due to the fact that we were the first to make real actions towards implementation of EU's energy policy. For this we were punished with the highest gas prices in Europe. Therefore the investigation initiated by the European Commission suggest that our efforts will be helpful for the whole Europe to establish a transparent and efficient energy market ", said the Minister of Energy Arvydas Sekmokas.

Expert’s view

Dr Ar?nas Molis, a political science professor at Vilnius University, is more specific about Lithuania’s concerns.

Gazprom, he said, has made it plain that Lithuania would “suffer” if it starts implementing the EU's so-called "Third Energy package", adopted in 2009, which requires vertically integrated energy companies like GDF or Gazprom to separate their gas supply and distribution businesses (so-called "ownership unbundling", see background).

Molis told EURACTIV: “Gazprom was very much concerned that loosing the control of gas pipelines in Lithuania will lead, in the long run, to the lost of monopoly position in country’s gas market, and subsequently - loosing the monopoly in CEE region.”

He said Gazprom was threatening to cut off supplies before alternatives such as LNG were able to reach Lithuanian soil. The Russian monopoly also refused to apply price discounts for Lithuanian consumers, contrary to what was offered to other countries which postponed implementation of the Third Energy Package or chose softer options.

Trying to change Lithuania's decision to separate gas supply from distribution, Gazprom reached out to Lithuanian politicians, Molis said, and supported "friendly" political parties, used local media, etc. (the country will hold parliamentary elections on 14 October).

“This huge pressure on the government and price for gas much higher than for other Baltic States and Germany for instance is called unfair and braking anti-trust rules - at least this is how I understand it,” Molis said.

Bulgaria, the most drastic case

The other countries concerned by the EU antitrust probe refrained from making the kind of bold statements issued by Lithuania.

It emerged however that Bulgaria probably provides the most drastic case of heavy-handed pressure applied by the Russian giant. As EURACTIV reported on 27 August, Gazprom and the Bulgarian government reached a deal this summer under which Sofia committed to the Russian-backed South Stream pipeline in exchange for a long-term pricing agreement on Russian gas.

The “double deal” is scheduled to be signed on 15 November. Traicho Traikov, Bulgaria’s former Energy minister who resigned in March, said in an interview with website Mediapool that he had opposed linking the issue of gas pricing with a commitment to the South Stream project.

Companies found to have violated EU competition rules can be fined up to 10% of their annual turnover. If the violation was committed over a period of several years a fine of 30% can be imposed. According to the experts quoted by the Russian daily Nezavissimaya Gazeta, Gazprom may have to pay $1.1-1.4 billion (€0.87- 1.10 billion) for one year, or $4 billion (€3.17 billion) for several years.

“The risks for Gazprom are high, although European commissioners will not necessarily impose a penalty. They may issue an order for them to amend their practices,” Mikhail Korchemkin, head of East European Gas Analysis, is quoted as saying.  

But according to energy expert Matthew Hulbert, who blogs with Forbes, Gazprom would hire “the best lawyers money can buy” and the result of the probe is far from certain.

Gazprom released  yesterday a press statement, stressing that they are a company “registered outside the jurisdiction of the EU”, which abides “scrupulously” by “all the provisions of international law and national legislation in all of the countries where Gazprom Group conducts business”.