Europe’s major gas suppliers in war of words

Russia and Norway take divergent views on how to tackle current price volatility

The differing attitudes of the two largest pipeline gas suppliers to northwest Europe on the causes of the ‘crisis’ that has affected the continent’s gas markets were laid bare in opening remarks at the 23rd ministerial meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in mid-November. Norway, a GECF observer member, spoke in favour of letting markets efficiently set prices and for no government interference. Russia blamed lack of respect for long-term contracts. “We have experienced a very volatile gas market through the last couple of years, providing substantial challenges for both consumers and producers,” says Morten Anker, deputy director general at Norway’s Ministry of Petroleum and