In recent years, especially from the autumn of 2015, in the press start to increase the number of reports about the start of deliveries of liquefied natural gas from the US to Europe. Strictly speaking, the American gas as an alternative to pipeline supplies from Russia, in the press, especially the American, talked a lot since the beginning of the shale revolution in the US in 2012, but the lack of the supplies themselves, explained the need to wait until the construction is on the American coast liquefaction plants.
With the collapse of oil prices, the theme is slightly lost its relevance, but now, it looks like someone started trying to inflate it again. Moreover, in three directions. First, initiated the repositioning of the question of the future stage to stage with. The plants are ready, America began testing the logistics channel. In Europe went first LNG. Secondly, as the source of information used by major European information sources. And the most interesting that actively translate and broadcast to their readership of these reports are beginning a national publication. Thus they broadcast outright misinformation.
As an example, you can take sensational in the past week the article “the United States sent the first batch of natural gas to Europe”, published in the edition of Deutsche Welle. Almost immediately it was reprinted in RT and even in TASS. The main message of the material – this is the beginning of a price war between producers of LNG and pipeline gas suppliers. If you take more – this is the beginning of the offensive of American LNG to Gazprom’s position in Europe. With an underlying hint that Gazprom in Europe – all in a short time, Russian gas will be completely replaced by an American. Mentioned in the article as it provides a clear confirmation of the fact.
“American Creole Spirit tanker filled with natural gas, is on the way to Portugal, which should arrive at the end of the month. On Thursday, April 21, according to the newspaper The Wall Street Journal. As experts assume, the supply of fuel can have a big impact on the European market, in particular – can decrease the price on Russian gas. “This is the beginning of a price war between producers of liquefied natural gas and gas supplied by pipeline,” said Thierry Bros, representing financial conglomerate Société Générale.”
Admittedly, the picture the authors have painted an impressive, one problem – it is false from beginning to end.
Let’s start with the fact that under the American flag, not a single tanker. No oil, no gas, nothing. The entire world tanker fleet prefers to use a more convenient jurisdiction for tax avoidance. Under the U.S. flag and the name of the ship Creole Spirit really is. It’s only a little tug, strictly for inland water areas. Port of registry – Houston, near which he trades and small cabotage, i.e. the transport barges. For any ocean crossings it is not intended, even just structurally.
http://www.marinetraffic.com/e…
Maybe the journalists were wrong with the title and dance should be from the photo accompanying article, which shows exactly a liquefied gas carrier? But here, it turns out, by. As this photo of the AL AAMRIYA. It really is designed for the transportation of gas. But, first, it is not American, and Arab. Owned Qatari company Qatar gas. Secondly, it sails under the flag of Marshall Islands. Thirdly, at the moment it is in the Persian Gulf and heads for the port of Fujairah with a cargo of methane. Fourthly, the ships of this class to transport butane-propane are generally not designed. Although theoretically can. In the end, hand-built, Ferrari is also capable of carrying potatoes in sacks, but this is rare. Most likely journalists DW just took the first available under the hand photo just for the beautiful illustrations of the material.
http://www.marinetraffic.com/e…
What we get in result? The vessel, which a few days must come to Portugal, in fact. Perhaps there is someone something and get lucky, but it’s definitely not American LNG Creole Spirit. However, there is such a supply in reality, it wouldn’t make sense so rude to hide, and certainly it would have been registered in the system marine traffic control, the links given above. Therefore we are talking about the most common information stuffing. The question – who and what is it for?
It seems that we see an echo of a price war, which is now against Gazprom are the largest European consumers, primarily Germany. The system of gas pricing rather strictly tied to the level of oil prices and follows it with a lag of 3 – 6 months. Last summer most of the scandals with locking gas procurement in Europe, by the way, in Ukraine, too, were not so much caused by the sudden viciousness of specific buyers, as their desire for any pretext to gain time pending the time of the next recalculation of gas prices.
Forecasts for the decline in oil prices has created a convenient opportunity to reconsider and the price of gas. Given that the volume of purchases measured in billions of cubic meters, a price reduction even, say, $ 20, provide very significant savings.
Now the trend is reversed. Although slow and unstable, but in General, oil prices began to rise. He expected fairly significant, with the current “about 35 – 40” to “about 57 – 70 dollars per barrel. Therefore will go up and gas prices. Buyers to sign contracts at higher prices is not desirable.
They are looking for arguments this trend somehow, if not break, at least slow down. As what and invented these stories about “that’s-that beginning” supplies to Europe cheap American LNG, which creates a critical competition for Russian pipeline gas and fatal collapse of gas prices on the EU market. That no gas and no one will bring – it does not matter. Of course it all turns out, but much later. If all goes well, then by that time will be able to bend Gazprom or on the price of new supplies for summer – autumn 2016, or to make any payments on retrospective discounts. And there us a gas can and not to bring. Moreover, for any significant volume of exports it in USA anyway.
It’s a hoax? Yes, of course. But after all, gentlemen are used to, they usually believe in the word, and that, you know, opens up some possibilities. For example, pretentious to talk about a gas tanker Creole Spirit, on all pairs next to Portugal.
