Gazprom's Expansion Strategy in Europe and the Liberalization of EU Energy Markets

Author(s): Andreas Heinrich
Editor(s): Jeronim Perovic, Robert Orttung, Matthias Neumann, Heiko Pleines, Hans-Henning Schröder
Series: Russian Analytical Digest (RAD)
Issue: 34
Pages: 8-11
Publisher(s): Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich; Research Centre for East European Studies, University of Bremen
Publication Year: 2008

Gazprom has focused its expansion strategy on Europe, its main consumer market. Driven by a desire to open up and secure markets as well as to acquire strategic assets in these markets, the company has intensified its internationalization efforts in the last couple of years. The European Union (EU) gas market liberalization has also propelled Gazprom's expansion; the company has striven to increase its share in the European downstream market. However, Gazprom's expansion in Europe is running into increasing opposition fuelled by fears of over-reliance on Russian gas and growing Russian influence on distribution networks in Europe.

Download:

English (PDF)