Europe ponders Russian gas return amid energy supply woes
In light of the energy crisis and challenges in negotiating with alternative gas suppliers, European industry leaders are increasingly advocating for the resumption of Russian gas supplies, kommersant.ru reports. Experts suggest that Russia could once again fulfil a significant portion of the EU's gas demand.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the European Union has aimed to completely halt Russian gas supplies by 2027 in response to Russian aggression.
The EU authorities had hoped to replace Russian gas with liquefied natural gas from the United States and Qatar. However, negotiations to increase supplies from these countries have stalled, placing European economies in a difficult position.
Russia could meet up to 25% of the EU's demand
In this scenario, voices among European industry leaders suggest that the EU could consider resuming gas supplies from Russia. Didier Ollo, Executive Vice President of the French energy company Engie, points out that Russia could supply about 60-70 billion cubic metres of gas per year, which would meet 20-25% of the Union's demand, compared to 40% before the war began. A similar view was expressed by Patrick Pouyanné, President of TotalEnergies.
Meanwhile, the German chemical industry, facing difficulties due to the lack of gas supplies, is also beginning to call for a return to Russian resources, kommersant.ru reports.
Christoph Günther, Managing Director of InfraLeuna, the operator of the chemical park in Leuna, indicates that the economic crisis demands swift action, and further delays in stabilizing gas supplies are becoming increasingly unacceptable.
