EUROPE GAS-Prices rise ahead of gas capacity auctions

LONDON, Sept 20 (Reuters) - British wholesale gas prices
rose on Monday morning ahead of capacity auctions which will
help to signal how much gas can Europe can expect from Russia.

* The British within-day gas contract was up 18.50 pence at
176.00
p/therm by 0819 GMT.

* The day-ahead contract was up 13.00 p at 175.00 p/therm.

* Traders and analysts said market attention was focused on
monthly auctions for transit capacity for Russian gas flows to
Europe.

* “The level of booking by Gazprom could give an idea about
its
strategy for the coming weeks,” Engie Energyscan analysts said
in a market update on their website on Monday.

* In addition to Mallnow capacity, there are also auctions
for
capacity available to book at Sudzha and Velke Kapusany.

* Gazprom has opted not to book capacity in recent months,
leading
to concerns about how much gas will be available from Russia
over the coming months, contributing to the current record high
energy prices across Europe.

* "No one is expecting a (capacity) booking today," a gas
trader
said.

* A group of European Parliament lawmakers last week asked
the
European Commission to investigate Gazprom's role in soaring
European gas prices, saying the company's behaviour had made
them suspect market manipulation.

* The British October gas price was up 17.35 p/therm at
175.00
p/therm.

* The October gas price at the Dutch TTF hub, a European
benchmark, was up 4.60 euros at 70.75 euros/MWh.

* The benchmark Dec-21 EU carbon contract was down
0.78
euro at 58.70 euros per tonne.

* The benchmark Dec-21 British carbon contract was
yet
to trade.
(Reporting By Susanna Twidale; editing by Nina Chestney)