The EU’s ability to purchase gas from non-Russian sources is approaching the limit, said Josep Borrell, the European Union (EU) High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. wrote this about him blog.
According to the diplomat, “a real storm” awaits Europe as energy prices rise, “economic growth is slowing, winter is approaching.”
He also pointed out that the EU has managed to some extent to cope with the overall decline in the share of gas imports from Russia, from 40% at the beginning of the year to about 20% today. This was achieved mainly due to increased purchases of liquefied natural gas (LNG), the share of which rose from 19% to 37%. Pipeline gas purchases from Algeria, Azerbaijan and Norway were also increased.
“But the reality is that we are approaching the limit of how much additional gas we can buy from non-Russian sources this winter. Therefore, the main part will have to come from energy savings, that is, from a reduction in demand,” Borrell said.
Fatih Birol, former head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) reportedIn June, the United States surpassed the Russian Federation for the first time in history in terms of gas sold to Europe.
Before that, Sergey Kolobanov, Deputy Head of the Department of Economics of the Fuel and Energy Sectors of the Central Strategic Research Center, declarationEurope is guaranteed to abandon Russian gas by 2040, but by 2025 if it works hard.