The EU is diversifying its energy resources

Russian gas imports into the EU become uncertain, and Romania is in a favourable position where it can ensure its own production needs

Ştefan Stoica, 19.07.2022, 14:00

Those who warned that the energy weapon would eventually be used, and that the Russians would make the decision not to supply gas to the European Union after the completion of pipeline maintenance operations, seem to have been right. Gazprom, which has a monopoly on Russian gas exports through pipelines, has declared a force majeure situation over gas supplies to Europe in the case of at least one major customer, according to a letter quoted by Reuters. The letter states that Gazprom was unable to meet its supply obligations due to extraordinary circumstances beyond its control.

Invoking a force majeure situation, used when a business is affected by something that is not under its control, will escalate the tensions between Russia and the West over the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Reuters says. The European Union, which has imposed sanctions on Russia, aims to completely abandon the use of fossil fuels from Russia by 2027, but for the time being it still needs those supplies, as the member states are far from securing their winter reserves.

Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday announced an agreement with Azerbaijan to double the EU’s gas imports from the former Soviet republic in the Caucasus in a few years’ time. Last year, Azerbaijan supplied about 8 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Europe through pipelines crossing Georgia and Turkey, and deliveries are expected to exceed 10 billion cubic meters this year. By comparison, Russian gas imports last year amounted to 155 billion cubic meters, which is almost 40% of the EU’s needs

The figures speak for themselves when it comes to Europe’s energy dependence on Moscow. That is why Brussels is seeking to diversify the Union’s gas supply sources. Moscow has already begun cutting supplies to several countries, and Europeans fear a complete cut in Russian gas in response to EU sanctions against Russia.

With an important production of its own and the offshore law finally adopted, which allows the exploitation of Black Sea gas, Romania could cover its domestic gas consumption needs this winter, without needing any imports, according to the former president of the National Authority for Energy Regulations, Niculae Havrilet. He believes such a scenario is entirely plausible:

Of course, this is an achievable program, it is a perfectly achievable scenario, but we know that these days, when we also have problems other than those strictly related to the gas structure, we can expect other difficulties. From this point of view, the Ministry of Energy has promoted a reaction plan in case we have gas supply issues.

Romania, Havrilet has also pointed out, could even help other European Union countries with gas, but through compensation and not for free. (MI)