North–South Gas Corridor: Geopolitical Breakthrough in Central Europe Cover Image

North–South Gas Corridor: Geopolitical Breakthrough in Central Europe
North–South Gas Corridor: Geopolitical Breakthrough in Central Europe

Contributor(s): Dariusz Kałan (Editor), Jarosław Ćwiek-Karpowicz (Editor), Brien Barnett (Editor), Dorota Dołęgowska (Editor)
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Economy, Supranational / Global Economy, Governance, Environmental and Energy policy, International relations/trade, Geopolitics, Transport / Logistics
Published by: PISM Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych
Keywords: North-South Gas Corridor; Central Europe; geopolitics; energy market; market liberalisation; building infrastructure; alternative gas suppliers; V4 governments; European Union; regulatory framework; Russia; Norway;
Summary/Abstract: Despite delays, a lack of short-term results, as well as turbulent domestic political agendas, the North–South Gas Corridor (NSGC or NSI) remains a priority for all of the Central European states. There are significant differences among them in terms of the level of market liberalisation, progress in building physical infrastructure, and with short-term priorities; however, first and foremost in common is a deep need to diversify both gas supply routes and suppliers. The goal is to achieve this using the same tools in each country—the development of new infrastructure, especially new interconnectors and underground gas storage facilities, contractual and trade arrangements (the introduction of physical and virtual reverse flows), market liberalisation, and the promotion of competition, spot markers and contracts with alternative gas suppliers. The V4 governments and regulators should be expected to continue coordination of efforts amongst themselves on a common regulatory framework for unified wholesaler trading zones, in parallel with the EU Single Market process (an integrated entry/exit network, a single virtual trading point, mergers of trading zones, etc.). In the long run, regional market liquidity might be increased through the establishment of a common gas trading hub, possibly at the future LNG terminal in Świnoujście, Poland. This could strengthen the hand of all of the purchasing countries from the region vis-á-vis their traditional suppliers, namely Russia and Norway.

  • E-ISBN-13: 978-83-62453-72-6
  • Page Count: 71
  • Publication Year: 2013
  • Language: English
Introduction

Introduction
(Introduction)

Letter from Director, Internal Energy Market, Directorate-General for Energy, European Commission

Letter from Director, Internal Energy Market, Directorate-General for Energy, European Commission
(Letter from Director, Internal Energy Market, Directorate-General for Energy, European Commission)

The Czech Republic: Bringing the Rest Closer to the West?

The Czech Republic: Bringing the Rest Closer to the West?
(The Czech Republic: Bringing the Rest Closer to the West?)

Hungary: Collecting the First Dividends of Interconnectivity?

Hungary: Collecting the First Dividends of Interconnectivity?
(Hungary: Collecting the First Dividends of Interconnectivity?)

Poland: Northern Wishes, Southern Promises

Poland: Northern Wishes, Southern Promises
(Poland: Northern Wishes, Southern Promises)

Slovakia: Coping with the Past, Preparing for the Future

Slovakia: Coping with the Past, Preparing for the Future
(Slovakia: Coping with the Past, Preparing for the Future)

Croatia: On the Southern Flank

Croatia: On the Southern Flank
(Croatia: On the Southern Flank)

Romania: No Direction in Gas Policy

Romania: No Direction in Gas Policy
(Romania: No Direction in Gas Policy)

Conclusions

Conclusions
(Conclusions)

Selected Bibliography

Selected Bibliography
(Selected Bibliography)

Annexes

Annexes
(Annexes)

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