Our World in 2018

ENERGY & CLIMATE
A thermoelectric power station emits smoke in front of
the main building of Moscow State University, as the air
temperature in the Russian capital fell to minus 13 degrees
Celsius in Moscow, Russia, 03 February 2017. EPA-EFE/SERGEI ILNITSKY
Russian gas in Europe: new highs
and political intrigues
By Konstantin Simonov
Gas exports by Gazprom to
Europe and Turkey in 2017
were again successful. The
R
these positive results for propaganda
purposes. Yet, challenges are
growing, and a new high is unlikely
to be recorded. Besides, there will be
the Nord Stream-2 project.
According to the data Gazprom
posted in January 2018, last year
the company supplied 193.9 bcm of
natural gas to countries outside the
CIS. It was 14.6 bcm (8.1%) higher
than the previous maximum reached
in 2016. In 2016 Gazprom increased
gas exports to countries outside the
CIS by 12% to 179 bcm compared
to 2015. Gazprom achieved two
absolute highs for two years in a
row, which is impressive on the
background of permanent anti-
Gazprom propaganda in the West
and among some Russian experts
claiming that Europe does not need
gas of Gazprom. According to our
calculations, some 170 bcm of Russian
gas was delivered to the European
Union in 2017, which was 16 bcm
more than in 2016. Reverse supplies
from Europe to Ukraine rose just by
3.1 bcm. Therefore, net exports of
Russian gas to the EU advanced by
approximately 13 bcm. Increase was
almost equally distributed between
Northwestern Europe (deliveries
through Germany) and Southeastern
Europe (transit via Ukraine).
Competitors of Gazprom also
demonstrated good results in Europe.
Norway added 7.6 bcm (6.8%). LNG
98 2018 | OUR WORLD