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Journal of World Energy Law and Business, 2011, Vol. 4, No. 2
book. Moreover, climate change which is an increasingly interesting area of the
EU–Russia energy relations was only marginally mentioned in the book. These remarks
do not diminish the value of the publication, but demonstrate that the EU–Russia energy
relations remain a very wide sphere of study, which is certainly not terminated by this
publication. This first attempt made by OGEL collection/Euroconfidentiel in cooperation
with Energy Law Research Forum represents a very useful reading for scholars interested
in the subject.
ß The Authors 2011. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the AIPN. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1093/jwelb/jwr008 Advance Access publication 6 April 2011
S. Pirani (ed), Russian and CIS Gas Markets and Their Impact on Europe,
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009, 336 p. ISBN: 978-0-19-955454-6
This book presents the most detailed study on natural gas markets and policies in Russia
and the rest of the former Soviet Union excluding Baltic States, so-called Community of
Independent States (CIS). It would be hard to overestimate the importance of these
markets and policy trends in light of recent gas transit crises between Russia and
Ukraine as well as Russia and Belarus. Indeed, most of the gas to Europe comes from
Russia, whereas an overwhelming part of it is transited through Belarus and Ukraine.
Moreover, high energy intensity and an ever-increasing gas consumption in the CIS
markets cast a sharp light on the prospects of resource availability for both CIS and
Europe. As it has been correctly stated in the book, the CIS consumes more gas than
Europe. The book clearly demonstrates efforts at market reforms in the CIS as well as
prospects for gas production and demand. Twelve chapters include particular overviews
for every CIS country, as well as a general Chapter on market reforms in the CIS in
addition to the impact of gas transit conflicts on Europe. Interestingly, the study of the
CIS gas markets demonstrates a close relationship between business and politics in the
sector. Among the 10 contributors, one will quickly notice well-known specialists such as
Tatiana Mitrova, Simon Pirani and Jonathan Stern. The book represents an interesting
reading for both specialists and students.
Andrei V. Belyi
Higher School of Economics, Moscow
ß The Authors 2011. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the AIPN. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1093/jwelb/jwr009 Advance Access publication 6 April 2011
Downloaded from http://jwelb.oxfordjournals.org/ at Nanyang Technological University on June 7, 2015
Andrei V. Belyi
Higher School of Economics, Moscow