Vestnik Kavkaza: Gas partnership between Europe and Russia
The EU and Russia are tightly connected economically, including in the sphere of gas supplies – Russia is the main exporter for Europe, while the EU is the main consumer of Russian gas. Pavel Zavalny, President of the Russian Gas Society, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Energy, speaks about cooperation between Russia and Europe in the gas sphere. He stressed that Europe remains a basic partner of the Russian Federation.
According to him, Russia exports “about 30% of the gas produced in Russia, about 40% of the coal, and more than 50% of the oil. Together with oil products, our exports to Europe are more than 80% and only 12% to the Asian-Pacific region.”
As for European energy consumption and energy balance in the gas sphere, Zavalny noted that last year gas consumption was about 462 billion cubic meters, it is less than last year. In 2012 it was about 480 billion: “The reason for the reduction is the use of renewable power sources. The share of renewable power sources in production of electric power in Europe has increased by 22%. It is even more than they have planned. Initially the EU planned 20%. They achieved the goal ahead of schedule. Moreover, they increased use of coal from America, which is cheaper to import than importing Russian gas. At the same time, Russian gas amounts to 46% of European gas imports, according to 2013 data. In general, gas consumption is more than 30%. Speaking about the current situation, imported gas amounts to 25% in the European energy balance. This is great when gas is a bit more than 25%, coal – 25%, then oil, oil products, and renewable power sources. This is a perfect energy basket for the EU.”