Paper short abstract:

This paper focuses on natural gas in Russia, and especially in Eastern Russia. It aims at showing the power strategies and relations that are linked with the gas projects and how the “energopolitics” is built and can be observed through discourses and ceremonies.

Paper long abstract:

This paper is based on a Ph.D. thesis in geography on the "gasification program of the regions of Russian Federation", i.e. the development of gas transportation network in Eastern Russia. Natural gas plays a major role in Russia. It is often seen as a political and economic weapon, but it is also the dominant source of energy for the country. Energy and power are both intangible, thus difficult to grasp. However, they can be apprehended through some physical objects and through representations and discourses. The gasification program is led by Gazprom with the support of the federal government and involves regional authorities. The importance of gas varies according to the types of customers and to territories, which leads to reflect on the most relevant scale of analysis to understand "energopolitics" (Boyer, 2011). It should be noted that Eastern Russian territories were not connected to the gas network and Gazprom was not established in these regions. Therefore, the development of gas networks represents a major change and its structure results from compromises between different interests (Raffestin, 1980). As for discourses, they convey representations that focus on raising the living standards of the population and developing territories. When a settlement is connected to the gas network, an inauguration ceremony takes place. These events give dominant players a stage to demonstrate their actions. This paper aims at showing how energy is at the core of the building of power through the physical network as well as through the symbolic dimensions.