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How will Europe survive winters without Russian gas?

Lafayette

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RUSSIAN GAS ALTERNATIVES?

They are somewhat easier than one might think. From here: How will Europe cope if Russia cuts off its gas?

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

So, alternatives to Russian gas exist - whilst the EU tries hard to entirely diminish its usage.

However difficult that may be ...
 
Ask the Euro's.

They are the one's on here bragging about their renewable energy.
 
Ask the Euro's.

They are the one's on here bragging about their renewable energy.
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.
 
RUSSIA

From here: RUSSIA’S ILLEGAL INVASION OF UKRAINE & THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

Excerpt:
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.

Perhaps Putin does not see the outcome of his error to seize and occupy the Ukraine.

But he will once all the efforts (now launched) to contain the Russian economy take effect. Russia borrowed a lot of technology that suited the common need for products/services - and such things all came with contracts allowing them to be terminated (under specific conditions).

So, Russia is really in a tight-spot and Putin is still nonchalantly whistling in the air - whilst the Russian economy nosedives ...
 
METHINKS

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.

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 and almost completed, 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 when the demand will increase once again.

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 ...
 
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 ...

They have 7 good months to convert their home heating over to something else.

It's their own fault if they want to rely on foreign gas.
 
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.
 
Atomic energy doesn't mean energy independence from Russia.
Canada, Niger and Namibia are also huge producers. We don’t have to buy from Kazakhstan only.
 
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.

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....
 
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.

Yes, but thankfully only "one of them".

Excerpt from here:

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.

The Soviet Union (once upon a time) had a great influence upon Kazakhstan and its sales of minerals and notably its natural-gas reserves. But Russia today does not "control" the country despite the fact that 3.8 million Russians live there.

It would be interesting to know how many of those Russians support Putin ...
 
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URANIUM PRODUCTION SOURCES

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.

Uranium sales in Kazakhstan (from here):

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%)

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 ...
 
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 ...
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....
Take it to the moon?
 
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.

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.
 
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.
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.
 
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.

Indeed, but at present, with oil-based heating systems you are creating atmospheric pollution.

It may take more time, but the effect is being seen here in Europe in high density cities where, after WW2, all housing was made with gas heaters. They've been pumping the combustion-gas out for close to 70 years.

And whyzdat? Because, despite the war, gas was still closely available in many northern European communities. So was the coal, also a pollutant ...
 
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 ...
As in Kazach uranium is really a Russian venture, also think about how Kazach uranium reach there customers, which country does it transit through?
 
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.
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."
 
Germany now is moving swiftly to establish three onshore LNG terminals and one FSRU-based facility (floating terminal).

Dutch Gasunie joins forces with German government to build Brunsbuettel LNG import terminal

Dutch gas grid operator Gasunie is joining forces with the German government and RWE to build the Brunsbuettel LNG import terminal as Germany looks to reduce reliance on Russian gas.

Dutch-Gasunie-joins-forces-with-German-government-to-build-Brunsbuettel-LNG-import-terminal.jpg


Gasunie, state-owned Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau (KfW), and German energy firm RWE signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday. Gasunie, a shareholder in the Dutch Gate facility, said in a statement it would operate the LNG terminal and it plans to start building the plant with an annual capacity of 8 billion cbm this year. In addition to LNG, the terminal would also be made suitable for importing (green) hydrogen, it said. Germany’s Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate said it would take a 50 percent share in the LNG terminal through a financial contribution on behalf of the German government. Gasunie will have a 40 percent operating stake while RWE will hold 10 percent.

This deal comes just a week after Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany had decided to back the construction of two LNG import terminals as part of efforts to reduce dependence on Russian pipeline gas imports. The facilities include the Brunsbuettel LNG terminal and Uniper’s LNG import and hydrogen facility in Wilhelmshaven. Uniper switched plans from LNG to hydrogen last year but the company is now considering to revive the project. Besides these two projects, Germany’s Hanseatic Energy Hub is also working on the Stade LNG import terminal near Hamburg while Belgium-based Tree Energy Solutions (TES) is looking to import both LNG and hydrogen via a planned hub in the German port of Wilhelmshaven.




The sudden and humongous construction will take a max of 3.5 years to become operational and perhaps 3 years. The project includes a jetty with two berths, with both unloading and loading capabilities, for LNG carriers ranging from 1,000 cbm up to 265,000 cbm. It will also have two LNG tanks each with a capacity of 165,000 cbm. Greek shipping magnates btw have ordered up 32 new LNG super tankers most of which will do regular routing from USA LNG export facilities along the Gulf Coast to Europe.








From European Gas Hub whose link is below....

A Glimpse at the Landscape of European LNG Regasification Infrastructure​


Regas-terminals-Europe-e1528783851506.png



As we can see Spain will become the gas receiving hub of Europe, not Germany.
 
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How will Russia survive without European money?

Russia is not a "weakling" economy. Neither is all that strong. But, the Russians have survived.

The great problem is the fact that a great deal of the money and residential value (both housing and businesses) was never distributed "equitably". 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 ...
 
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.

As to the Russian people, and as the Russophiles constantly say, Russians are used to misery and suffering so there's nothing to be concerned about. While Americans don't get anything like those kinds of vicissitudes Russians themselves always keep in mind that they're definitely going to get screwed.

And, pathetically, the Russophiles take their cues from the Madman Ras-Putin.
 
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 ...
Use as much of it as necessary to fund Ukrainian refugees, to include higher education for the children who want to study abroad.
 
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 ...
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.
 
What needs to be done is what needed to be done years ago, commit to renewables.
 
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