Discussions continue in Brussels about a possible ban on imports of Russian energy. Moscow is unimpressed by this – there is no reasonable alternative, they say.
Russia’s Energy Minister Alexander Nowak has shown himself unimpressed by European discussions about possible import bans on Russian gas and oil.
“There is hardly any sensible alternative to energy sources from Russia. Taking into account Russia’s market share, it becomes clear that without Russian energy resources it is impossible to guarantee Europe’s energy security,” Novak wrote in an editorial for the industry journal Energeticheskaja Politika (“Energy Policy”).
According to Novak, it will take another five to ten years before the EU can completely replace Russian oil and gas. Neither the US nor the OPEC countries have enough capacity to help the Europeans out quickly. “Therefore, the fate of European industry and the well-being of EU citizens entirely depends on the rationality of EU leaders’ decisions,” Nowak wrote. At the same time, he defended the change in gas payments to rubles demanded by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Because of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the West has imposed far-reaching sanctions on Moscow. In this context, Europe also wants to reduce its dependence on Russian gas. However, Germany, among others, has rejected calls for an immediate stop to Russian gas supplies.
Source: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
