Energy monitor blames Russia for European gas crisis
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The head of the International Energy Agency blamed Russia for much of Europe's natural gas crisis, saying Wednesday that high prices and low storage levels largely stem from the behavior of state-owned gas supplier Gazprom.
Fatih Birol, executive director of the Paris-based international energy monitor, said in an online news conference that Russia could send up to a third more gas through existing pipelines. That would amount to some 10% of European daily consumption — about the amount that industry officials say would be needed to avoid a severe shortage in case of colder-than-expected weather.
“In terms of European gas ... we believe there are strong elements of the tightness in European gas markets due to Russia’s behavior," Birol said.
“Contrary to other pipeline supporters, such as Norway, Algeria and Azerbaijan, which increase their supplies to Europe, Gazprom reduced its exports to Europe by 25%” in the fourth quarter compared with a year ago "despite high market prices,” he added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has underscored that Gazprom has met its obligations under long-term contracts and blamed high spot gas prices on European decisions to move toward volatile short-term market pricing. He has also asserted that German gas customers have been reselling Russian gas to Poland and Ukraine rather than addressing their own market’s needs.
When pressed by reporters on the call, Birol resisted saying directly that Russia was using gas to put political pressure on western Europe. Russia has moved thousands of troops near its border with Ukraine and made demands that Ukraine be excluded from membership in the NATO alliance. It also wants approval of its newly built Nord Stream 2 pipeline that would bypass other countries and start...
