Both the media and pundits have repeatedly – unsuccessfully – alarmed in recent years that Russia is actively involved in supporting environmental groups organizing campaigns and protests against shale gas.
Initial studies showed that Europe has 13 to 14 trillion cubic meters of shale gas reserves – far more than conventional gas. However, this alternative mining industry was never developed in the Old Continent due to unfavorable geological conditions, high population density and concerns about environmental pollution.
Activity of Russian fuel companies in the informal financing of ecological propaganda in the EU
The latter in particular were fueled by various environmental groups, such as local protests. Suspicions that ‘environmentalists’ do not act from noble motives, but are inspired by the Kremlin. in 2014, The New York Times, and in 2016, the Wilfried Martens Center for European Studies (WMCES) in Brussels – have not prevented the introduction of a moratorium on “shale”, eg in Germany and France.
The authors of the 2016 report pointed to the increased activity of Russian fuel companies Gazprom and Lukoil in funding propaganda highlighting perceived threats related to EU mining. However, this apparent paradox is easily explained: “shale gas extraction in the EU would be detrimental to Russia because of its financial dependence on EU gas imports; that is why the Russian government invested 82 million euros in NGOs tasked with convincing EU governments to halt shale gas exploration, according to the Brussels think tank.
The justification given by EU decision-makers at the time was that Russia was not openly funding the “environmentalists” and that the financial flows were not clear.
Essentially, the money is transferred to various informal intermediaries – companies or individuals from tax havens – before appearing in the account of an EU-based company
– we read in the 2016 report.
“Eliminate the competition
The fruits of such action turned out to be an economic and political victory for Russia.
By steering public opinion and politics against fossil fuel production, especially fracking, Russian oil and natural gas producers outperformed potential competitors, allowing them to dictate higher prices, gain bigger profits, and make Europe even more dependent on Russian oil and gas. gas. Mission accomplished. Unlike in the US, fracking has never caught on in Europe
– wrote an expert from the Texas Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI) in 2022, Merrill Matthews.
Dilemmas of Europe
According to WMCES’ Dimitar Lilkov, if Europe does not explore new options to meet its energy needs – including a return to shale gas extraction despite a lost decade in this field – it will face two “gruesome choices”.
One of them would negotiate the restoration of supplies by Gazprom. This would be a catastrophic geopolitical failure for the EU and a direct betrayal of the people of Ukraine. The second option is energy rationing, social tensions and a painful loss of competitiveness across the continent
— we read in his analysis of September 2022.
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rm/PAP
Source: wPolityce