Proclaiming that “continuing to operate in Russia is not tenable,” the CEO of one of the major partners in the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline project said Jan. 17 that the oil and gas independent will exit Russia entirely.
Wintershall will take a one-time 5.3 billion euro non-cash loss as a result of its departure. This involves the company’s Russian joint ventures and impairments from Nord Stream AG and the WIGA Group midstream business.
“Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine is incompatible with our values and has destroyed cooperation between Russia and Europe,” Wintershall Dea CEO Mario Mehren said announcing the decision.
The company wrote off about 1 billion euros of financing for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline on March 2, shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. At that time, Wintershall said it would not pursue additional oil and gas production projects in Russia and would halt planning new projects and payments to Russia.
“We are prepared for this difficult moment,” Mehren said. “We have been prudently building up financial flexibility and maintained high discipline regarding our spending levels. We are diversifying our portfolio, with an aim of modest future growth of our business outside Russia.”
Recommended Reading
Exclusive: Chevron Balancing Low Carbon Intensity, Global Oil, Gas Needs
2024-03-28 - Colin Parfitt, president of midstream at Chevron, discusses how the company continues to grow its traditional oil and gas business while focusing on growing its new energies production, in this Hart Energy Exclusive interview.
Trans Mountain Pipeline Announces Delay for Technical Issues
2024-01-29 - The Canadian company says it is still working for a last listed in-service date by the end of 2Q 2024.
Imperial Expects TMX to Tighten Differentials, Raise Heavy Crude Prices
2024-02-06 - Imperial Oil expects the completion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion to tighten WCS and WTI light and heavy oil differentials and boost its access to more lucrative markets in 2024.
Carlson: $17B Chesapeake, Southwestern Merger Leaves Midstream Hanging
2024-02-09 - East Daley Analytics expects the $17 billion Chesapeake and Southwestern merger to shift the risk and reward outlook for several midstream services providers.
Midstream Builds in a Bearish Market
2024-03-11 - Midstream companies are sticking to long term plans for an expanded customer base, despite low gas prices, high storage levels and an uncertain political LNG future.