If Russia does wield the gas weapon, how much would it hurt the West? If the interruption were limited to gas passing through Ukraine, as in 2009, the rest of Europe would manage fine. For one thing, Gazprom has already slashed the flow of gas through Ukraine. Citigroup, a bank, reckons it is half the level seen last year and a quarter of that in 2019.
What if Mr Putin cuts off all gas to Europe? Some immediate disruption would be inevitable. This would be felt most acutely in Slovakia, Austria and parts of Italy (see chart), reckons David Victor of the University of California, San Diego. Of the big European countries, Germany is the most vulnerable. Because of its climate-motivated push to retire coal-fired power stations and its rash decision, taken in the wake of Japan’s Fukushima disaster, to shut down its nuclear plants, it remains more reliant on natural gas than it need be. It is Europe’s largest consumer of gas, which accounts for roughly a quarter of its total energy consumption, with Russia supplying over half of its imports.
The good news is that Europe’s energy system is more resilient than it was during the crisis of 2009. Andreas Goldthau of the University of Erfurt in Potsdam points to some useful changes. Pro-competition measures (like a ban on “destination clauses” that forbid the resale of gas) have weakened Gazprom’s grip. A dense web of gas interconnectors now links previously isolated countries
I do know one thing, it would be much more difficult for the russians to cut off the wind and the sun. The sooner oil is out of the equation for daily use the better.Ask the Euro's.
They are the one's on here bragging about their renewable energy.
The United States’ leadership of Western opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is the correct response. No question. The entire international system of States is based upon Westphalian notions of sovereign equality, border inviolability, territorial integrity, political independence, and autonomy. Russia violated each of these norms in its treatment of Ukraine and Vladimir Putin is trampling key provisions of the U.N. Charter enshrining them as law.
Legal Fallout
There is no doubt that Putin can be prosecuted as a war criminal for how this invasion has been executed against civilians and their property without military necessity, just as Serbia’s Slobodan Milosevic was prosecuted for his role in orchestrating the Balkan civil wars. The International Criminal Court’s prosecutor confirmed that the court has jurisdiction over war crimes committed by Russian forces in Ukraine. Due to Ukraine’s acceptance of the ICC’s jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute crimes committed on its territory from 2014 onwards, key legal hurdles that stymie the court in other situations are cleared in this case. That said, because of limitations on the court’s ability to pursue the crime of aggression, which Russia clearly committed as well, no case could be brought on that basis.
I do know one thing, it would be much more difficult for the russians to cut off the wind and the sun. The sooner oil is out of the equation for daily use the better.
METHINKS
There were two lines that brought gas from Russia to Germany (that imports around 60% of its need). One is productive and still supplies Germany with gas. As regards the second one, identical, Germany has torn up the contract.
Which means Germany, in this coming year as we (here in Europe) exit winter will be employing less Russian gas for heating homes. But that still means they need a replacement for next winter win the demand will increase.
And that has to be atomic in order to get to the quantities of electricity that will be needed. Methinks, evidently.
My Point: I don't think that Putin has put sufficient thought into what he was doing. That alone places a huge question-mark on whether he stays in office or he gets done to him what he has done to so many others who got in his way ...
Canada, Niger and Namibia are also huge producers. We don’t have to buy from Kazakhstan only.Atomic energy doesn't mean energy independence from Russia.
The whole notion that atomic energy is less dependent on Russia is bullcrap. Here in Finland we froze the construction of a new reactor, because it was basically ordered from Rosatom, and more nuclear energy means more and more dependence on Russia. Russia is one of the largest providers or uranium and atomic technology in the World. The largest uranium provider in the entire world is Kazachstan, where Russian oligarchs have invested so much in Kazach uranium mining, that buying from Kazachstan just means filling their wallets. Atomic energy doesn't mean energy independence from Russia.
Russia is one of the largest providers or uranium and atomic technology in the World. The largest uranium provider in the entire world is Kazachstan, where Russian oligarchs have invested so much in Kazach uranium mining, that buying from Kazachstan just means filling their wallets. Atomic energy doesn't mean energy independence from Russia.
The following countries are the top producers of uranium, based on 2019 figures:
- Kazakhstan - 22,808 tons.
- Canada - 6,936 tons.
- Australia - 6,613 tons.
- Namibia - 5,476 tons.
- Niger - 2,983 tons.
- Russia - 2,911 tons.
- Uzbekistan - 2,404 tons.
- China - 1,885 tons.
Russia is one of the largest providers or uranium and atomic technology in the World. The largest uranium provider in the entire world is Kazachstan, where Russian oligarchs have invested so much in Kazach uranium mining, that buying from Kazachstan just means filling their wallets. Atomic energy doesn't mean energy independence from Russia.
Natural
- Kazakhstan: US$1.7 billion (56% of natural uranium exports)
- Canada: $1.0 billion (33.6%)
- United States: $214.3 million (7%)
- Ukraine: $80.3 million (2.6%)
- Netherlands: $13.5 million (0.4%)
- South Africa: $8.5 million (0.3%)
- Germany: $1.5 million (0.05%)
- France: $777,000 (0.03%)
Just thinking of heating customers (here in Maine we are heavily reliant on oil furnaces to heat our homes and businesses), switching back to electric isn't going to help the millions that still need to install new heating systems, many of whom haven't got that kind of spare $$$ laying around.and still literary no one has a solution for the 100k years of radioactive waste... - but hey thanks to france it´s sustainable energy now....
RUSSIAN GAS ALTERNATIVES?
They are somewhat easier than one might think. From here: How will Europe cope if Russia cuts off its gas?
So, alternatives to Russian gas exist - whilst the EU tries hard to entirely diminish its usage.
However difficult that may be ...
Take it to the moon?and still literary no one has a solution for the 100k years of radioactive waste... - but hey thanks to france it´s sustainable energy now....
Just thinking of heating customers (here in Maine we are heavily reliant on oil furnaces to heat our homes and businesses), switching back to electric isn't going to help the millions that still need to install new heating systems, many of whom haven't got that kind of spare $$$ laying around.
Good man! I believe the answer is going to be renewables, some of which we haven't thought of yet. During the transition the world still needs juice, though.you do know that atomic energy meanwhile is way more expensive than renewable sources?
We get solar pannels this month and when my actual gas heating is broken (20 years old) my personal plan is to install geothermal heating - than I´m completely indipendent and clean.
Just thinking of heating customers (here in Maine we are heavily reliant on oil furnaces to heat our homes and businesses), switching back to electric isn't going to help the millions that still need to install new heating systems, many of whom haven't got that kind of spare $$$ laying around.
As in Kazach uranium is really a Russian venture, also think about how Kazach uranium reach there customers, which country does it transit through?URANIUM PRODUCTION SOURCES
Uranium sales in Kazakhstan (from here):
Also, here is World Uranium Production by country here: World Nuclear Association
Russia is seventh on the list and the Kazakhstan total-production is heavily dependent upon Russian workers ...
How will Russia survive without European money?RUSSIAN GAS ALTERNATIVES?
They are somewhat easier than one might think. From here: How will Europe cope if Russia cuts off its gas?
So, alternatives to Russian gas exist - whilst the EU tries hard to entirely diminish its usage.
However difficult that may be ...
That's awesome! We've had solar for a few years and absolutely love it. With some local storage, we are able to get through outages quite easily and while our dependency on the grid cannot be eliminated, it's nice to get to a place where the grid connection is a "nice to have" rather than a "must have."you do know that atomic energy meanwhile is way more expensive than renewable sources?
We get solar pannels this month and when my actual gas heating is broken (20 years old) my personal plan is to install geothermal heating - than I´m completely indipendent and clean.
How will Russia survive without European money?
Russia's political-economic elites don't care so why should we. The real blow to the elites is losing their big yachts.How will Russia survive without European money?
Use as much of it as necessary to fund Ukrainian refugees, to include higher education for the children who want to study abroad.Upon being "elected" president (though having lost the election), Putin began selling government "enterprises" in order to make his own personal fortune since 2000/2008.
That's more than two decades as Head-of-state in Russia.
Russia is not broke fiscally. That is not until now, after the European Union (along with the US) has sequestered most of the wealth that Putin sold to all-and-sundry. Meaning what?
That money will remain outside of Russia in escrow for as long as Putin is boss ...
It's a half truth. Sweden will be very much affected for example. Even though we are one of the least dependent countries in Europe (according to your article, the very least) when it comes to Russian gas. This is due to that our electricity system is connected to the EU market, which for us means that whoever pays the most will get the electricity we produce. So, prices in Sweden has already climbed to unprecedented levels and would continue to climb if Russian gas were to be totally stopped.RUSSIAN GAS ALTERNATIVES?
They are somewhat easier than one might think. From here: How will Europe cope if Russia cuts off its gas?
So, alternatives to Russian gas exist - whilst the EU tries hard to entirely diminish its usage.
However difficult that may be ...
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