Gas problem – Nhan Dan Online

Relying largely on fuel provide from Russia, the EU is looking for an alternate supply, within the occasion that Moscow shuts off the valve for the fuel pipeline to Europe, within the context of chilly climate and the rising demand of companies and folks. Within the first six months of 2021 alone, Russia offered 46.8% of the full fuel imports to Europe.

Nevertheless, analysts say that the opportunity of Russia’s Gazprom power group reducing fuel deliveries to Europe is low, as a result of lots of the agreements between the EU and Moscow, are long-term contracts that should be applied.

Russia earned 62 billion EUR because of fuel exports to Europe, and Moscow nonetheless wants this overseas forex income. In case of necessity, EU international locations can minimize fuel consumption or restart nuclear and coal energy crops to provide electrical energy. Catherine MacGregor, Chief Government Officer of French energy group Engie, mentioned that Paris can remedy the issue of provide shortages within the brief time period, because of its meagre however accessible reserves.

It’s essential for the EU to seek out one other provide supply aside from Russia right now, as a result of Europe understands that fuel is important for manufacturing, enterprise and each day lifetime of the European individuals.

German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck acknowledged that the tense geopolitical scenario has compelled the EU to think about different prospects, to make sure enough fuel imports and diversify its provide. The European fuel market is now extra secure than in 2009, when provide from Russia to Europe was stalled for 13 days, as a result of Ukraine disaster, inflicting fuel from Moscow to Europe, through Ukraine, to all of the sudden minimize down by 70%, making it troublesome for manufacturing actions and folks’s lives.

As well as, some provisions within the contract prohibiting the resale of fuel have been abolished, thus the pipeline system is healthier related. Europe additionally has circumstances to import extra fuel from Norway, Azerbaijan, and Algeria. Strategic fuel reserves additionally enable the EU to carry out for a couple of extra months.

Nevertheless, if provide is minimize off all of the sudden, the implications might be big, particularly for international locations like Austria, Slovakia and components of Italy. Germany may also be severely affected, due to its full dependence on Russian fuel, given the truth that Berlin closed all nuclear energy crops.

The world’s second largest conventional provider of liquefied pure fuel (LNG), has just lately acquired a request for help from the US. LNG transported by specialised tankers, which presently account for half of the world’s fuel demand, is a way more versatile resolution, than transporting by fastened pipelines. Many massive fleets should not sure by long-term contracts, to allow them to be simply switched between journeys, if there are clients who provide extra engaging costs.

Qatar is contemplating the opportunity of asking some clients, primarily in Asia, to just accept cuts in fuel imports to switch to Europe. Prior to now few weeks, the US has mobilised its whole diplomatic system, to seek out methods to extend LNG provides to Europe. In late January 2022, US President Joe Biden and European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen, mentioned coordinated measures to make sure extra fuel provides for the EU, to keep away from falling into an emergency scenario, if provide from Russia is minimize off.

Due to the shale revolution, the US has risen to change into a serious exporter of liquefied petroleum fuel all through the world, serving to the quantity of the US’s European LNG exports to extend day-to-day. Particularly, when fuel costs in Europe quadrupled over a brief interval in 2021, US LNG costs turned extra aggressive.

Along with the US, various different international locations also can present sure help to the EU. On the EU’s request, Japan has begun to divert LNG provides to Europe from its personal devoted supply supply. Nevertheless, this provide may be very restricted and is principally symbolic, as a result of Japan can be depending on imported LNG from different international locations.

Political analysts hope that the strain surrounding Ukraine won’t get uncontrolled, serving to the area to take care of safety and stability, within the context that the entire world is each nervous about coping with the COVID-19 pandemic and making an attempt to revive financial progress.