U.S. President Joe Biden (left) and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hold a joint press conference to discuss energy cooperation measures and hold a joint press conference in Brussels, Belgium, on the 25th (local time). Brussels = Archyde.com
When Russia abruptly stopped supplying natural gas to Poland and Bulgaria, the European Union (EU) declared a hardline response to Russia’s ‘weaponization of energy’, saying, “The era of Russian fossil fuels is over.” Each country distributes gas to Poland and Bulgaria. The U.S. has also increased its gas exports to Europe and started to support the rear.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement on the 27th (local time) that “Russia has started to use gas to threaten us”. We have been working hard to secure and expand our stockpiles,” he said. He also explained that “neighboring countries are supplying gas” to Poland and Bulgaria.
Earlier, Russian state-owned gas company Gazprom had blocked gas pipelines flowing to the two countries from this morning, demanding that gas be paid in rubles. Russia also threatened that other unfriendly European countries might do the same.
However, von der Leyen said that “Gazprom’s decision will have minimal impact on European consumers” and that “Russia’s attempt to sow the seeds of division among EU member states has once once more failed.” He added that “the era of Russian fossil fuels in Europe will come to an end,” he added.
The United States is also actively supporting the EU by expanding exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The U.S. Department of Energy announced on the same day that it has decided to allow an additional 14.15 million cubic meters of gas per day to two of its energy companies. This is enough to heat 2.5 million households in one day. However, it did not specify which countries the increased export volume would go to. Last month, the US allowed an additional 23.88 million cubic meters of export per day.
White House press secretary Jen Saki called Russia’s halt to gas exports “an already anticipated energy weaponization”. He also introduced the fact that the United States launched a task force with the EU last month to deal with energy security issues, he said, adding that “we will overpower Russia, which uses energy to pressure Europe, and reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian energy.”
Korea also plans to divert some of its LNG supply for use in Europe by this summer. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 28th, “After the winter season has passed, the LNG supply and demand situation has become more relaxed, so we have decided to provide some at a level that does not affect domestic supply and demand or prices.” However, it did not disclose the specific timing or volume of supply because it might affect other LNG contracts.
Kim Pyo-hyang reporter [email protected]
