Cover Osteuropa 2-4/2010

In Osteuropa 2-4/2010
Teil des Dossiers Energie

Drip-Fed
Ukraine, Russia, and Natural Gas

Simon Pirani


Deutsche Fassung

Abstract

Ukraine has a natural gas problem. The Ukrainian economy is one of the most energy intensive in the world and almost half of its primary energy consumption is natural gas. But not only is the country’s consumption enormous, its dependency on imports is also great. Conflicts with main supplier Russia are the order of the day. The most recent contracts could replace the post-Soviet political wheeling and dealing. But in the current economic crisis, the serious consequences of delayed reforms are being revealed: The gas bills are bringing Ukraine to the brink of bankruptcy.

(Osteuropa 2-4/2010, pp. 237–256)