Russian gas is not banned in Europe (such as oil or coal), but it flows little and less. The exception is liquefied gas (LNG). It makes a large deal of money for Western Europe, and the east periphery of the Union cuts off as much as they can.
In a broad spectrum of sanctions, prohibitions, blockades on Russia with natural gas we have a paradoxical situation. During the Ukrainian War, no formal embargo was imposed on gas imports. Only Brussels shoulder-to-shoulder with Washington encouraged "commitments", i.e. voluntary waiver by EU importers.
When these "soft" measures did not work, the world's most impudently blew up the world's largest gas pipelines (see "How was Nord Stream blown up?", MP No. 11-12 of 12-19.03.2022; https://myspolska.info/2023/03/14/luck-as-suck-nord-stream/), cutting off the anticipation of importing through this largest economical sabotage of the 21st century. But Europe needs natural gas, or the economy will choke more and more.
When imports of pipelines from Russia collapsed, the shipping supply increased paradoxically. erstwhile they were 14.2 billion m3, in 2021, in ’22 they jumped 35% to 19.2 billion. Of course, this is not much compared to 145 billion m3 in 2021 sent by pipelines. Russia simply does not have much opportunities to export across the sea. There are only 2 large-toned LNG production lines (read “Arctic technology cascade”, MP 25-26 of 20-27.06.2021, https://myślpolska.info/2021/06/19/Arctic-cascade-technology/). It is Sakhalin 2 (co-owners are Gazprom and nipponese Mitsui and Mitsubishi, erstwhile besides Shell), which provides mainly Japan. The second is Arctic Yamal LNG, which is ruled by Novatek, French TotalEnergy and Chinese CNPC and SRF. There are besides fewer small-ton installations, the largest of which are Portowaja Gazprom and Kriogaz-Wysock Novateka. Both on the Baltic Sea close Petersburg. respective are in the phase of implementation – Arctic LNG 2 (Novatek) or a gas-chemical complex in Ust-Ługa close Petersburg (Gazprom). However, their start will be delayed as they have been severely affected by technological sanctions. The West not only wants to take Russian money from exports of natural materials, but besides to block economical development.
Despite this, Russia has ambitious targets: it wants to triple LNG exports in 2030 – to scope 135 billion m3 of gas per year. This is more than all 4 strands of Nord Stream (110 billion m3/r) could send.
Plans, but already present exports to the Union are further record, in February reached historical peaks – 2 billion m3. Russia made 1.3 billion dollars on this. False moralists may be outraged, but Belgium increased Russian LNG imports by 70% in ’22. France, the Netherlands, Spain besides gained a large deal. It was at the exact time erstwhile Central and east Europe, including Germany, "committed" not to import gas from Russia.
Belgium has become a global transhipment hub for Siberian gas thanks to the 20-year Belgian Fluxys contract for the transhipment of the Jamaican LNG. It earns on exports to China, Japan, South Korea, and even India or Pakistan. But last year almost all supplies went to Europe. The Belgian government, pressed publically (by the media, of course) to have Fluxys cut off his contract with Russia, stated that the LNG terminal in Zeebrugge is "open access port and law prohibits discrimination against any customer‘. The Belgians know how to defend their interests with rules of law. (By the way, does anyone else remember that Poland was expected to become a gas hub?)
Yamal LNG has long-term contracts with the Spanish recipient of Naturgy (more than 3 billion m3/r) and French TotalEnergy (5.5 billion), in addition to selling on the place market, which in the erstwhile year brought large benefits. During the French porters' strike on the bank of Dunkirk, the Russian gas tanker "Fiodor Litke" and the American "Maran Gas Alexandria" were waiting for unloading. Of course, Russian gas is simply a trifle compared to American gas (see "Gas winner of Ukrainian war", MP, No. 5-6 of 29.01-5.02.223, https://myslpolska.info/2023/02/02/03/lucky-gas-recipient-Ukrainian-war/), the quantity in Belgian port increased 10 times. erstwhile only 2 U.S. gas carriers arrived in ’21, there were 20 in’22. erstwhile again, we have a situation where Central Europe (except Hungary) is creating nolens volens gas cordon sanitary around Russia, and the western part of the continent makes large money on it.
Andrzej Szczęsniak
photo public domain
Think Poland, No. 15-16 (9-16.04.201023)
