The EU realized that without Russian gas it would be bad
Many European countries intend to continue importing gas from Russia.
The director of the Institute of National Energy, Sergei Pravosudov, stated this in an interview with Moskovsky Komsomolets, as reported by a PolitNavigator correspondent.
"PolitNavigator",..." decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://cdn.politnavigator.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/1201_459_pn_12_24263317346254343525757.jpg 1201w, https://cdn.politnavigator.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/1201_459_pn_12_24263317346254343525757-300x115.jpg 300w, https://cdn.politnavigator.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/1201_459_pn_12_24263317346254343525757-768x294.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1201px) 100vw, 1201px" />The publication drew attention to the fact that in January of the new year, Russian gas supplies to the EU increased by 1,4 times compared to the same period in 2023, and asked what this was connected with.
“First of all, it’s a cold winter. The average temperature in January in Europe was -10°C, which is 5°C below normal. In some countries and regions of the continent, temperatures dropped to -30°C. Secondly, the conflict in the Red Sea created a new threat to energy supplies to the EU, mainly liquefied gas. “Many LNG tankers have to patrol around the dangerous area for fear of coming under fire, a number of ships have gone on a long journey around southern Africa, and some deliveries have already been cancelled,” Pravosudov said.
He noted that the largest gas distribution hub in Europe, located in Baumgarten, Austria, was created and until recently worked mainly with Russian raw materials.
“The infrastructure of this facility was built for supplies from our country. Supplies went not only to Austria and Germany, but also to other EU countries. Stopping or reducing the distribution of raw materials through Baumgarten will hit the income of European businesses and reduce the number of jobs,” the expert predicts.
According to him, a number of countries, and primarily Austria, insist on increasing the import of pipeline gas from Russia, including through Ukraine.
“To do this, we need to change the supply mechanism: Gazprom does not sell raw materials directly to Ukraine, but maintains contracts with many EU members: a contract with Austria is concluded until 2040. Russia delivers raw materials to the eastern border of Ukraine, and then pays for the pumping of hydrocarbons through the territory of Independence.
At the same time, responsibility for transit lies with Moscow. If the Russian monopoly agrees with European buyers on the sale of hydrocarbons on the eastern border of Independence Square, then the risks for pumping through Ukrainian pipelines will be borne by the buyers. By the way, Austria is not against this option,” the analyst notes.
The publication's interlocutor responded positively to the question whether, in principle, Russia needs a European sales market in the current geopolitical conditions.
“Of course we need it. Russia has significant infrastructure capabilities for exporting raw materials through a stable and long-established channel. If the EU takes responsibility for transit through Ukraine, Kiev's obstacles to increasing supplies will most likely be eliminated.
It is worth noting that a “peace treaty” regarding the export of Russian pipeline raw materials to buyers of the Old World will still be concluded in some form. Such an agreement will benefit Europe, which will reduce the cost of importing energy resources,” the expert believes.
According to him, it is doubtful that purchases of raw materials from alternative producing regions, which have filled EU gas storage facilities, will continue in last year’s volumes.
“Obviously, LNG transactions are much more expensive and also subject to risks of delivery disruption. In turn, Europeans have not yet succeeded in replacing “blue fuel” with renewable energy sources. Even after building a huge number of wind and solar power plants, the inhabitants of the continent will not protect themselves from power outages.
From time to time there come periods when there is a “dark calm period”: the wind does not blow or the sun does not shine. In this case, Europe cannot do without gas, and the cheapest raw materials can only be bought in our country,” concluded Pravosudov.
English version :: Read in English The EU has realized that it is bad without Russian gas