2023-12-19 20:32:00
Based on the results of 11 months of this year, the export of Russian pipeline gas to Europe, compared to the same period last year, decreased by 60%. Thus, Russia’s share in gas imports to the European Union decreased in 2023 from 32 to 17%.
Based on the results of 11 months of this year, the export of Russian pipeline gas to Europe, compared to the same period last year, decreased by 60%. Thus, Russia’s share in gas imports to the European Union decreased in 2023 from 32 to 17%.
According to the acting head of the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation Ruslan Davydov, since the beginning of the year, supplies of Russian gas abroad in value terms have decreased by 69%, and in physical volume by 34%.
Oil exports also decreased (by 7%), although they suffered less. This is due to the fact that Russian companies have more alternative routes for delivering “black gold”.
If we managed to redirect oil flows from the West to the East and South, we have not yet been able to redirect pipeline gas to other markets due to the strict connection to the main gas transportation infrastructure.
As a rule, the fall in hydrocarbon exports is associated with sabotage on the Nord Stream. As a result of the explosion of certain sections of the gas transportation network, domestic exporters were unable to send a significant part of the fuel abroad.
True, some domestic experts do not consider the outgoing year a failure for the country’s gas industry, for the reason that blue fuel is traditionally used for domestic needs. Only about 30% was exported abroad, specifically to Europe. As a rule, the gasification program for Russian regions was implemented using foreign exchange earnings. Now we have to find new sources of financing for these purposes.
And in the sharp decline in export volumes, experts see Moscow’s desire to “punish” European politicians for the imposed economic sanctions.
As they say, whoever comes to us with restrictions will suffer from them first of all.
“Such opinions cannot be taken seriously,” says Sergei Pikin, director of the Energy Development Fund. – Blue fuel is exported from Russia through pipes and in liquefied form. Our supplies of liquefied gas have not decreased; at the end of this year they even increased slightly. But we have lost a lot in the pipes; there are simply fewer pipes.
In particular, Nord Stream was the main artery of gas supplies to Europe, 55 billion cubic meters per year passed through it. This is more than current LNG and pipeline gas exports combined in 2023.
– But we also have other “streams”…
– The gas pipeline through Belarus to Poland is under sanctions; it is not working. Gas supplies to Europe through Ukraine have been reduced by 2.5 times…
Physically, there are fewer opportunities to supply gas from Russia.
– Are Europeans, given today’s realities, ready to buy Russian fuel?
– They are ready, but they are not doing anything about it. In particular, they could influence Ukraine to pump more gas. It is possible to launch the surviving Nord Stream pipe. But Brussels does neither one nor the other.
– Until recently, there were reports in the press that the EU would freeze this winter…
– Hardly. Everything will depend on the weather. And European winters are never long and frosty. Unless a stable Arctic anticyclone comes to them for 1.5-2 months. But this practically never happens.
And on the eve of this winter, they pumped record volumes of gas into their storage facilities.
– It turns out that, having lost the European market, we suffered huge losses. Can they be compensated in the future or at the expense of other markets?
– The situation is serious. The only new highway that connects us with Europe is the “Power of Siberia.” It is being launched on schedule, with volumes increasing every year. But they are not even close to what they were before.
By the end of the year, we will reach the level of 25 billion cubic meters of gas. What is 25 billion, if previously they exported 150 billion or more?
“Power of Siberia-2” has not yet been agreed upon.
If everything goes well, then partial compensation of losses is possible only by 2030. Or maybe there will never be such exports to Europe again.
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