Russia won’t switch off gas supply to Europe-Oettinger in magazine

BERLIN: European Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger does not expect Russia to switch off gas supplies to Europe over the Ukraine crisis, he told German magazine Wirtschaftswoche in an interview published on Saturday.
"I don't believe it would be in Russia's interests," Oettinger was quoted as saying.
Russian gas export giant Gazprom issued a thinly veiled warning on Friday that it could stop shipping gas to Ukraine over unpaid bills.
Ukraine is a major gas transit nation for supplies from Russia to the European Union, which relies on Russia for about a quarter of its gas.
But Oettinger said a cut-off would not be beneficial for the company: "Gazprom has an interest in its daily sales revenues so that investment is worthwhile and turnover is generated."
Oettinger said if no more gas flowed through Ukraine, it would affect 14 percent of European gas consumption.
In early 2009 Gazprom cut off gas to Ukraine over unpaid bills, leading to reductions in European supplies during a cold winter.
But Oettinger said Europe was better placed to deal with such a scenario given that the winter had been mild, gas storage sites were fuller than a year ago and European Union countries were now obliged to ensure they had 30 days' worth of supplies.
"We're in a better position than we were five years ago," he said.

Scotland star Laidlaw agrees Gloucester switch

LONDON: Scotland halfback Greig Laidlaw has agreed a deal to leave Edinburgh and join Gloucester next season, the English Premiership club announced on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old, who can play at scrum-half and fly-half, will replace Freddie Burns, who is due to join Leicester from Gloucester.
Laidlaw has operated at scrum-half for Scotland during the current Six Nations campaign, but Gloucester rugby director Nigel Davies intends to make full use of his versatility.
"He's likely to be first-choice 10, but we've got a few combinations there," said the former Wales coach.
"We see him very much as a nine-come-10, which he has done at Scotland. He's played 40 percent of his games at 10 for Scotland.
"He's the right type of character that we need to bring into this group. He's a natural leader, and he impacts games very positively. He's a true 80 percent-plus goal-kicker, so we're very excited about that."
Renowned for his pinpoint kicking, Laidlaw made his Scotland debut in 2011 and has to date won 27 international caps. He follows New Zealand front-row forward and Wales hooker Richard Hibbard in signing for Gloucester.
England squad fly-half Burns has seen his form fall away since he agreed to join Leicester, with his goal-kicking accuracy slipping from close to 75 percent last season to 57 percent in the current campaign.