Russia's Strategic Search for Natural Gas Storage

Recent actions by Russia highlight the role that natural gas storage facilities play in Moscow's broader energy strategy in Europe. Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko signed a decree May 22 calling for Russian-controlled Gazprom Transgaz Belarus to expand the capacities at the country's Mozyrkoye and Pribugskoye underground storage facilities. The construction and commissioning of these projects, which are expected to increase storage capacity by 1 billion to 2 billion cubic meters, will occur between 2013 and 2020. Lukashenko's decree comes amid Russia's attempts to acquire natural gas storage facilities in another former Soviet state, Ukraine. As the energy dynamics in Europe evolve, Russia's access to downstream storage facilities will help determine Moscow's position on the Continent.