The Russians “turned the tap” and STOPPED gas supplies – Pluska.sk

Gas flows from Russia through Belarus and Poland to Germany. Reuters referred to information from the German gas network operator Gascade. This step comes at the worst possible time, when in Europe there is a lack of energy from wind farms and it is quite cold due to stable weather.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks in an address to a meeting of the Russian Ministry of Defense College on December 21, 2021 in Moscow.

Source: Mikhail Tereshchenko

If frosts persist in the EU, “Blackouts or the need to serially interrupt electricity supplies to businesses and households cannot be ruled out,” said analyst Lukáš Kovanda, Chief Economist of Trinity Bank.

In Europe, blackouts and downtime threaten in the event of frosts

France, for example, is temporarily shutting down two nuclear power plants for safety reasons. Germany plans to shut down three nuclear power plants by the end of the year.

According to Kovand, natural gas is still flowing to Slovakia in standard supplies, ie. 80 – 90 million cubic meters per day.

Price at historical maximum

According to Reuters, current gas prices in Europe are already above the previous high. The price of the contract was still at the level of 146.73 euros per megawatt-hour this morning, while the previous maximum increase took place in October (155 euros / MWh). Currently, the price of a futures contract delivered in January in the Netherlands is higher than 170 euros per megawatt-hour (171.45 € / MWh).

The West therefore accuses Moscow of trying to force Europe to approve the Nord Stream 2 pipeline by restricting supply and raising prices.

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The Russians deny that they intended anything by reducing the flow, and point out that they supply gas as required and fulfill contractual obligations. According to the Russians, the increase in gas prices may be due not only to high demand, but also to the fact that the EU imports more expensive liquefied natural gas (LNG) from non-European areas.

In the picture, a sign with the words Nord Stream 2 hangs over a painted map on November 16, 2021 in Lubmin, Germany. The German Network Authority stated that it had suspended the certification process for the North Stream 2 gas pipeline project. As a reason, it stated that the structure of the company operating the pipeline was not yet in line with German law. The decision of the German authority represents a new complication for the project worth 10 billion euros.

Source: Stefan Sauer

According to Gascade, the volume of gas from Russia to Europe decreased just as the Russians began to fulfill Nord Stream 2.

The Nord Stream 2 project – translated North Stream 2 – cost 10 billion euros and is subject to controversy and delays. Poland, Ukraine and the United States have criticized him for allegedly increasing Europe’s dependence on Russian gas. Only Germany and Austria stood up for the project, but even ambiguously. The rest of Europe was against it. “From a geopolitical point of view, this pipeline is a mistake,” said Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock some time ago.

Sulík on the current crisis: Does Slovakia have enough gas?

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In Europe, blackouts and downtime threaten in the event of frosts

Price at historical maximum

Sulík on the current crisis: Does Slovakia have enough gas?

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