Russia is meeting its obligations under the OPEC/non-OPEC crude production agreement, and participants remain committed to the arrangement, despite ongoing uncertainty over world energy market developments.

OPEC is due to meet in June, where the Iran question will no doubt be raised. But oil and gas leaders are taking a cautious approach, with Kuwait's oil minister Khaled Al Fadhel noting that a decision would be taken only after a review of oil prices.

Asked whether Iran’s oil could be removed from the market, Mr. Barkindo said: “No repetition is needed. Eliminating Iran from the oil market is impossible.”

Operators of Belarus, Ukrainian, Hungarian and Slovakian sections of troubled Druzhba network have agreed on technical measures to clean contaminated oil from part of the system and expect normal quality oil from Russia to start entering Belarus and Urkaine in the coming days, Ukrainian pipeline operator Ukrtransnafta said Tuesday.

The EU has long worked to diversify from relying on Russia for almost 40 percent of its gas needs by developing LNG infrastructure to access other suppliers. Qatar and Australia are other major LNG suppliers.

Nord Stream 2 is already waiting for the DEA to decide on permit applications for two different routes, and claims the request for a third route option is illegal.

Profit attributable to the owners of PJSC Gazprom for the year ended December 31, 2018 amounted to RUB 1,456,270 million which is by RUB 741,968 million, or 104 %, more than for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Poland, Germany, Ukraine and some other countries suspended imports of Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline this week due to the contamination. Russia said it plans to restore the pipeline to Europe to stability in two weeks.

Putin said Ukraine was overpaying for gas which it could get much cheaper if it signed a transit deal with Russia.

The meeting participants stressed the success of the operating Nord Stream gas pipeline and the great importance of the under-construction Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline for the energy security of Europe and Germany in particular.

The meeting participants reviewed the development prospects of the Chinese gas market and the strategic aspects of cooperation between Gazprom and CNPC, paying particular attention to gas supplies. It was noted that the preparation of facilities for Russian gas exports to China via the Power of Siberia gas pipeline from December 1, 2019, is going according to schedule.

Profit attributable to shareholders of PAO NOVATEK increased to RR 381.8 billion (RR 126.74 per share), or 8.9 times, as compared to the corresponding period in 2018.

PAO NOVATEK (“NOVATEK” and/or the “Company”) announced that its joint venture with Gazprombank Cryogas-Vysotsk has commenced full-scale production of liquefied natural gas (LNG). During the official ceremony at the port of Vysotsk, Russian President Vladimir Putin has formally started the Cryogas-Vysotsk LNG project.

PAO NOVATEK (“NOVATEK”) announced today at the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation that China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Company Ltd (“CNODC”), a wholly owned subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation (“CNPC”), has signed a binding agreement to enter the Arctic LNG 2 project.

PAO NOVATEK (“NOVATEK”) announced today at the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation that China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Company Ltd (“CNODC”), a wholly owned subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation (“CNPC”), has signed a binding agreement to enter the Arctic LNG 2 project.