Translated material
"Negotiations behind closed doors"
The new chapter E.on ruhrgas does not wait for sleepless nights and gray hair
The largest German natural gas importer E.on Ruhrgas optimistically evaluates the prospects for the market in Germany and in Europe as a whole. The company is already counting on about 4%for an increase in sales, which will compensate for a decrease in sales in 2009. This was told at a meeting with reporters, the chairman of the board of E.on Ruhrgas Klaus Shefer, summing up the results of a 100-day stay in this position.At the same time, according to Mr. Schaefer, the adjustment of long-term contracts with gas suppliers, including Gazprom, remains a priority for E.on ruhrgas. Although long contracts with exporters are the key to stability, the concern is still convinced that in the current conditions there is great flexibility in their implementation in the market. It is necessary to rewrite the individual provisions of the contracts, Mr. Schaefer said, refusing to go into the details, but adding that negotiations are conducted "behind closed doors." He noted that with Gazprom, which remains an important partner of E.on Ruhrgas, there is a “confidential dialogue” in the spirit of partnership traditions, covering almost four decades.
The head of E.on Ruhrgas, which last week left Gazprom’s shareholders, selling 3.5% of shares for 3.4 billion euros (see News Time of December 2) , admitted that relations with suppliers are not easy. “Nevertheless, I am convinced that we will be able to achieve a mutually acceptable solution, thanks to which a new strong base will be created for today's and promising GAZ market,” said Mr. Shefer. He recalled that this has already happened. For example, in the 80s of the last century, Gazprom and Ruhrgas agreed to more flexibly approach the implementation of long-term contracts. He emphasized: “The sale of our shares in Gazprom does not change anything in the partnership between Gazprom and E.on Ruhrgas. Also in the future, we will purchase significant volumes of Russian natural gas for the German and European market and carry out many joint projects in close cooperation. ”
The maternal structure (E.on) was extremely disappointed with the results of the gas “daughter”, which caused personnel cleaning in her rule. There were even rumors that the company could sell E.on Ruhrgas non -appealing package in the framework of the program to optimize the asset portfolio and improve financial indicators. Answering the question about the prospects of the enterprise he headed, Mr. Shefer noted that the Ruhrgas transaction in 2003 is considered the most successful in the history of E.on. It was she who allowed to become a full -fledged gas -energy concern. “And this means that with the thoughts of the future of my enterprise, I will not have sleepless nights and no more gray hair will appear,” Mr. Shefer is convinced.
His special optimism is caused by expectations of gas consumption in Europe and the world. “According to all forecasts of the development of the gas industry in the medium and long term, an increase in global consumption of natural gas is expected,” he said, referring to the last review of the International Energy Agency. Various scenarios of this document provide for an increase in gas consumption to 2035 from 15 to 36%. Mr. Shefer does not expect progressive movement: "Manufacturers and importers will experience both overproduction and gas deficit in the market." However, in general, the trend for gas suppliers will be positive, including by satisfying energy hunger with countries such as China and India.
But in Europe, the head of E.on Ruhrgas sees promising prospects, despite the fact that the image of the gas is pretty spoiled by transit wars of recent years and the fears of politicians in connection with the growth of imports. He explained his confidence in the indisputable environmental qualities of gas compared to other fossil energy carriers. That is, it is natural gas that provides the optimal balance between the reliability and efficiency of energy supply on the one hand and the protection of the climate on the other. “In the struggle for environmental purity, natural gas is not a part of a problem, but solutions,” says the head of the company.
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- // 08.12.2010
- // 08.12.2010
- // 08.12.2010
- // 08.12.2010
- // 08.12.2010
