European Commission plans 18 May to approve A plan in case the Russian gas supply is suddenly cut off. This was written in the newspaper on Sunday, May 8. El Pais.
Emergency
Brussels warns that if there is an emergency in the energy sector, the measures will affect almost all EU partners. Those with other sources of supply, such as Spain, will have to share their gas with countries affected by the supply disruption, according to the report.
According to the publication, European authorities will demand the energy ration to start with the industrial sector so that companies in less affected countries do not have a competitive advantage over companies in more affected states.
consumption rationing
Brussels is also expected to use the security of supply regulation in effect since 2017 to ensure adequate gas supplies to certain customers – households and basic social services – across the community and take measures to mitigate the effects of emergencies.
Under these rules, each affected state can set its own rationing rules. In addition, countries experiencing supply problems will be able to turn to the solidarity clause that will force neighboring countries to support them.
It is within the competence of the EC to declare a state of emergency affecting several members of the Community or the entire EU at the same time. According to preliminary estimates, in the event of a complete shutdown of Russian gas supplies, the measures envisaged in the regulations will have to be taken by almost all partners in the European Union.
“In some countries, because the termination would directly affect them. And in others – because they will have to reduce industrial consumption to help their neighbors, ”the newspaper’s interlocutors explained.
It is envisaged that Brussels will be responsible for verifying the implementation of the solidarity clause. In case of supply problems, the initial measures will be voluntary and aimed at reducing consumption in the industrial sector.
replace russian gas
According to the release notes, the EU began to look for alternatives for energy sources. At the same time, Brussels acknowledges that in the short term it is almost impossible to replace Russian gas by 2022. At the same time, AK believes that from 155 billion cubic meters. Two-thirds of m of fuel coming annually from the Russian Federation can be replaced.
Russian deliveries in Europe account for 45% of gas consumed, writes TASS.
“Two EU countries – Finland and Bulgaria – are 100% dependent on supplies from Russia. Russian gas accounts for 61.9% in Germany. Significant consumption in Austria (70.1%), Greece (96.4%), Latvia (76.5%), Slovakia (84.1%), Hungary (64.1%), Denmark (53.1%) have volumes. %), Poland (64.2%) and the Czech Republic (57.7%),” the agency said.
Payment in rubles
At the end of March, the President of the Russian Federation announced the transition to making payments in Russian currency for gas supplies to “non-enemy” countries. Moscow’s new demand is already caused the suspension Fuel imports to Poland and Bulgaria. Previously, the Baltic states – Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia – refused Russian gas.
German Economy Minister Robert Habek described Moscow’s decision as an attempt to split, saying that the G7 countries do not intend to pay for Russian gas supplies in rubles. Also, sources in Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry reported that all G7 countries have asked their companies not to accept Ruble gas bills.
Against this background, on 6 May, EC spokesman Eric Mamer said that the debate in the EU regarding the sixth package of sanctions against Russia is ongoing.
It has been reported that it could include the disconnection of several more Russian banks from SWIFT, restrictions on “disinformation”, and restrictions on oil imports from Russia, up to an EU-level embargo on its supply.
Consequences of cutting off gas supplies
The most sensitive, according to local officials, would be the rejection of Russian gas for Germany – and it is not as much of a domestic disturbance as an industrial crisis, with losses and downtime of up to 6.5% ($240 billion) of annual production. two and a half years.
“We are not talking about lowering the heating temperature in homes by two degrees. The question is whether we will lose an entire industry, such as the chemical industry, ”explained German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Other Western countries cannot afford to refuse gas either.
“The absence of Russian gas would do us more harm than Vladimir Putin in Austria or in Europe,” said Leonore Gewessler, head of the Austrian Ministry of Energy.
Hungary is also dependent on 85% of Russian gas and 64% of oil from the Russian Federation. The prime minister of the republic, Viktor Orban, emphasized that Budapest will not support the sanctions on fuel imports, otherwise “the whole country will be paralyzed” and many businesses should be closed.
Problems with the ban on gas imports from the Russian Federation are also visible in Spain: newspaper sources El Mundo in the local industry – only 6% dependent on supplies from the Russian Federation – they are also afraid of losses, but not from the lack of fuel, but from the high cost of restructuring their supply chains and finding suppliers, as well as the expectation of legal costs.
Central Supply
Last autumn, EU countries considered the possibility of urgent joint gas purchases from Russia in order to guarantee the best possible price for them.
as i wrote daily telegramWe can talk about a scheme similar to that used by Brussels for the centralized supply of coronavirus vaccines. The European Commission then negotiated on behalf of all the countries involved in the union, which helped to secure a lower price for drugs than they estimated.
Broadcast sources noted that gas is one of the possibilities discussed by European officials. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell suggested that Europe will probably need more Russian gas than is understood. He recalled that the Spanish authorities proposed that the negotiations on gas purchases be carried out by European authorities on behalf of the member states of the Community, not by each country as is currently the case.