destabilization of Europe. Russia blocks Sevpotok

Gazprom claims it is reducing supplies for technical reasons, but in Germany they are sure it is a continuation of the gas war.

Energy companies from Austria, France, Italy, the Czech Republic and Germany reported a decrease in Russia’s gas supplies through the Nord Stream pipeline. The reason for this, Moscow called the delay in repairing the equipment, which is handled by the concern of German Siemens. However, Berlin did not believe this and said Russia was trying to destabilize the European gas market and raise prices. Athletistic telling details.

Another gas blackmail from the Kremlin

The Kremlin has been using gas since last fall to put pressure on Europe, as it is harder for him to give up it than oil. Russia responded to the EU’s decision in June to impose a delayed oil embargo by reducing gas supplies. Now gas prices are rising in Europe and there are problems filling gas storage facilities in the winter.

In May, Gazprom pumped 170 million cubic meters per day through its main gas pipeline in Europe. But in early June, Russia’s monopoly began to cut supplies. In the first week up to 155 million, in the second – up to 145, and in the third (current) week – absolutely certain.

On Wednesday, Gazprom announced that Nord Stream’s maximum capacity would be reduced to 67 million overnight.

Russia is referring to the need to fix the gas turbine engines of the Portovaya compressor station, which pumps gas into a pipeline that connects Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea. The machines were serviced by their manufacturer, German Siemens, but it halted operations in Russia because of its outright war against Ukraine.

Putin’s act of desperation. German press about shutting off gas

On June 16, the head of Gazprom, Alexei Miller, said there was no way yet to solve this problem and stressed that Nord Stream 2 was ready for launch, but not launched due to lack of certification.

“We were asked to build, only huge funds were invested, and when everything was built, you know, Nord Stream 2 was under pressure, the gas could be delivered to Germany now,” he said.

However, in Germany they do not believe in technical reasons. According to German Minister of Economics Robert Habek, Gazprom’s decision to reduce gas pumping by 40 percent is political.

“In this sense, I have the impression that what happened yesterday was a political decision, and not a decision that can be justified from a technical point of view,” Habek said at a press conference in Berlin on June 16.

Today, according to Germany, the gas flow passing through the Nord Stream is 59.1 percent of the pipeline capacity and has not yet fallen.

This decline, along with temporary disruptions to U.S. LNG supplies, prompts EU plans to fill storage by 80-90 percent in October-November and reduce Russia’s gas purchases by two- third to weaken the ability to fund a war against Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Gazprom reminded Europe in a separate press release that it already has only 26 billion cubic meters of gas in storage, and up to 90% it needs another 37 billion, and for the sub -level – 46 billion . Finding these cubic meters today will be more difficult and expensive.

The new cuts have not yet affected Russia’s gas supplies to Europe through two other existing pipelines, but they are on a much smaller scale: approximately 20 million cubic meters per day through Turkey and around -about 40 million through Ukraine. Yamal-Europe via Belarus to Poland has long been turned off.

Due to the reduction in Russian supplies last winter, gas prices in Europe broke all historical records, and prices for all other fuels rose thereafter. Western countries faced an economic crisis before they fully recovered from the coronavirus pandemic.

Since the start of the war, the EU alone has paid Russia 60 billion euros for oil and gas. Russia makes record revenues from energy sales, despite cuts in supplies and production. Gazprom announced the scale of the decline on Wednesday.

According to preliminary data, from January 1 to June 15, 2022, production reached 226 billion cubic meters of gas, which is 6.4 percent less than the same period last year. Deliveries to non -CIS countries dropped by 28.9 percent.

At the same time, Russian Permanent Representative to the EU Vladimir Chizhov said that problems with the repair of turbines for the Nord Stream could result in the complete closure of the project and “a disaster for Germany.”

Germany, before Russia’s full invasion, imported more than 50 percent of all its natural imports from Russia. Authorities have expressed the need to eliminate reliance on energy, but keep in mind that it will take several years.

Russia continues to supply gas to EU countries, but imposes sanctions against itself. In late May, Gazprom announced the termination of supplies to the British-Dutch company Shell Energy and the Danish company Orsted in connection with the refusal to pay for gas in rubles under the new scheme.

It is also known about the termination of Russia’s gas supplies to the Netherlands. Earlier, Russia stopped pumping gas into Poland, Bulgaria and Finland.

Europe has found a replacement for Russia’s gas

On June 15, Israel signed an agreement on natural gas exports to the European Union. The gas will be brought to Europe via Egypt, which was also part of the agreement.

Israeli Energy Minister Karin Elharar met in Egypt with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyn and her colleagues from the EU and Egypt and signed a memorandum of understanding on this issue.

The agreement is valid from the date of its signing and for three years. After that, it will be automatically renewed for another two years.

According to the signed memorandum, Israel, Egypt and the European Union recognize that natural gas will be used for energy purposes until at least 2030, after which its consumption in Europe will gradually decrease until 2050, until EU member states will commit themselves to the transition. towards a zero-emissions economy.

The parties also agreed that the European Union should encourage the participation of European companies in competition procedures for exploration and production of natural gas in the waters of Israel and Egypt.

“Through this agreement, we will work towards a stable supply of natural gas to the EU from the Eastern Mediterranean region. This will help our energy security. We are building an infrastructure suitable for renewable energy sources – the energy of the future, ”von der Leyn said on Twitter.

Athletistic previously told in detail how the European Union rejects Russia’s oil and gas.

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