Russia is the main supplier of gas to Europe. In order to protect that situation from unexpected difficulties of gas transportation, it is trying to protect its position and increase the security of buyers of gas. They are investing in order to increase their storage capacity in Europe. In 2015, they will reach 5 bcm, multiplying their current volume by more than twice as much.

In the domestic sphere, the Russian authorities highlighted the official opening of the Sakhalin-Khabarovsk-Vladivostok pipeline in September. One of the goals of this pipeline (and others that will complement the system) is it being a vehicle for exporting future Russian gas to China, South Korea and Japan. When finished, the system will be 3,500 Km long and will transport 36 bcm/year of gas to the East fields of Siberia, including Chayandinskoye. This field would be in operation in 2017. The plan for a liquefaction plant near Vladivostok would complete the infrastructure plan to allow exportation to the abovementioned countries.

In 2011 negotiations were held in order to obtain permits, get gas related resources and sign agreements, which would end in investment decisions for the South Stream and Nabucco pipelines. The first is a Russian initiative and the second is a consortium of European companies, with strong support from the EEC.

Two questions are resolved: Decreasing European dependence on gas coming from Russia (Nabucco) and putting existing resources on the market in the countries that are around the Caspian Sea (both projects).

Three European energy companies signed a legal agreement with Gazprom in September to construct the South Stream in the Eastern territory of Europe. EDF, Eni and Wintershall will have 50% of the company that they form (the other 50% will belong to Gazprom) with the objective mentioned in that territory.
Turkmenistan is one of the countries in the Caspian area that is moving the most quickly to get their gas reserves on the market. In November, the President of Turkmenistan signed an agreement in Beijing to increase sales in China until they get to 65 bcm/year, from the 40 bcm/year that is currently agreed on.
Also in November, Turkmenistan and Pakistan signed an agreement on the price of gas that would be transported by the planned Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline (TAPI). Although there is an agreement like TAPI and other initiatives for bringing gas to India from the west, it is a very sought after and difficult to obtain goal given the political difficulties.