Europäische Strategien gegen die "Gas-OPEC"

In diesem Artikel mit dem Titel „Europa sagt Nein zur Gas-OPEC„, der von dem europäischen Onlinemagazin Cafebabel.com veröffentlicht wurde, beschreibt Nicholas Newman die derzeitigen europäischen Strategien gegen eine „Gas-OPEC“. Jonathan Stern, Energieexperte am Institut für Energiestudien (Institute for Energy Studies) an der Oxford University, ist jedoch der Meinung, eine solche sei  unmöglich. Er betont ebenfalls die Notwendigkeit einer gemeinsamen europäischen Energiestrategie.

A ‚Gas-OPEC‘ is „almost certainly not viable“, says Jonathan Stern „given the very differences that exist with gas production, distribution and marketing“. He also argues that the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), a diverse group of gas producers aiming to stop internal competition is a ‚relatively chaotic organisation with unstable membership and an uncertain future‘, which sounds fortunate for Europe’s ambitions.

The article also stresses that the threat of Europe facing a repeat disruption to its supplies is „highly unlikely“, as European countries are currently setting up strategies. Indeed, Belarus and Ukraine are negotiating with Gazprom over the price to pay for gas, and Gazprom is building direct pipelines to Western and Southern Europe. Moreover, German, French, Italian and Austrian buyers have recently renewed their gas-supply deals with Gazprom/ Russia, with 15-25 year contracts. 

However, as these contracts are legally binding and subject to international legislation, Europe should formulate an energy strategy, concludes Nicholas Newman, although EU governments will probably not come to such an agreement soon. How Europe can cope with its increasing dependency on gas imports from Russia and elsewhere is still open to debate.

To read this article in full, please click here.