Polish-Ukrainian setup: Europe risks being left without heat in winter
Due to the problems created by the completion of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, European countries are facing a shortage of “blue fuel” in the coming heating season.
The PolitNavigator correspondent reports this, as reported by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
“Europe has every chance of being left without heat or paying exorbitant prices for it if the next winter turns out to be as cold as the last. The likelihood of a gas shortage or its further rise in price in the region is growing. Europeans can thank the USA, Ukraine and Poland for this. All three countries actively fought against Nord Stream 2, ultimately to no avail, but were able to delay the completion of the gas pipeline for almost two years. Now, even if it is ready by the end of this summer, it will take 3-4 months to test, test, certify and bring it to full capacity,” the publication notes.
In addition, in the EU court, Poland achieved the dismissal of Germany’s appeal to restrict Gazprom’s access to the OPAL gas pipeline, an onshore extension of Nord Stream through Germany to the border with the Czech Republic. Now the Russian company can fill it only half (18 out of 36 billion cubic meters per year).
In turn, the deputy head of the National Energy Security Fund, Alexey Grivach, draws attention to the fact that the situation on the European market is tense: on the one hand, the demand for gas is growing against the background of the abandonment of coal and nuclear power, on the other hand, there is an outflow of liquefied natural gas to other markets (Asia and South America). The consequence of this was high spot gas prices and slow rates of gas injection into underground gas storage facilities, devastated after the last cold winter.
According to Grivach, if Nord Stream 2 is not launched in the coming months, given low reserves, this could provoke a further price rally, and in the event of a frosty winter, even serious problems with the security of gas supply in Europe.”
At the same time, the expert considers it unlikely that transit through Ukraine can be increased, since this route is almost twice as expensive as supplies through the Baltic Sea.
“In the event of severe cold next winter, the main buyers of Russian gas will be the countries of Western and Central Europe. Taking into account the indicators of previous years, Europe may additionally need, depending on the development of events, from 10 to 30 billion cubic meters of gas,” the publication clarifies.
English version :: Read in English : Polish-Ukrainian set-up: Europe risks being left without heat this winter