Russian gas currently accounts for only 8% of Europe’s total consumption

According to the ENTSOG monitoring, which centralizes data on the arrival of gas via gas pipelines, by ships, as well as on the level of storage in EU countries, Russian gas, already only 8% of total consumption in Europe. Before the invasion of Ukraine began, it was close to half. About a third of the gas imported by the EU from Russia went to the German market, demonstrating Russia’s dependence on fossil imports developed by the leading European economy. Soviet Union still existed.

Countries that are especially dependent on Russian gas are those that do not have the power plant infrastructure to convert natural gas. liquid gasas are Germany, Austria anyone Hungary. Berlin is rapidly building several degassing plants in the North Sea that should be operational next year.

four interconnects

There are four main gas connections connecting Russia to Central Europe: the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines crossing the Baltic Sea – the first officially stopped the supply of gas at the end of last August due to a technical problem, and the second, the necessary certificate from the German authorities. never went into operation after receiving it–; pipe Line JamalIt has not been supplying gas since last May, connecting Russia and Germany via Belarus and Poland; for him TransportGas continues to flow through Ukraine; and turkish streamConnecting Russia to Italy via the Black Sea, Turkey and Greece, it continues its activities.

Green Robert Habeck, the German economy minister and vice-chancellor, said recently that the amount of Russian gas reaching Europe could be considered “homeopathic doses”. Germany has been searching for months. alternatives to an energy source whose days are numbered. The production processes of German industry are heavily dependent on gas consumption, and although currently the largest European economy’s reserves already exceed 90%, Berlin, rationing measures With the arrival of the cold months, consumption starts to increase in homes and workplaces.

Currently and according to ENTSOG figures, liquefied gas arriving in Europe by ship is currently the main source of supply for consumption in the Old Continent. This liquefied gas is partially United States of Americalast April it definitely surpassed Russian gas.

incoming gas Norway It is also offered as a complementary alternative to liquefied gas and has already become the second largest source of supply in the European gas market. The Governments of Poland, Denmark and Norway opened this week. Baltic Pipe, the gas pipeline connecting the Scandinavian country with Eastern Europe. A diversion of about 900 kilometers from Europipe II, which previously connected Norway with northern Germany. But Norway’s supply capacity is much more limited than Russia’s.

MidCat Option

In this context, Algeria, the world’s tenth largest gas producer, is positioned as another serious alternative. Italy, which is connected to a North African country like Spain by a natural gas pipeline, agreed with Algeria to purchase 25,000 million cubic meters of gas by the end of the year. The growth capacity of Algerian gas is enormous: it is now the third largest source of gas supplies to Europe, but far behind liquefied gas and natural gas from Norway.

The biggest problem of Algerian gas supplied to Spain and Italy is the lack of gas connections between Southern and Northern Europe and Central Europe. government Pedro SanchezWith the open support of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, medium cat and the European Commission is committed to co-financing. government FranceThe country that needs to go through this new gas pipeline remains reluctant to greenlight the project.