Gazprom threatens to redirect its exports to Asia

“If the EU does not like the price of the Russian natural gas, the company can redirect its exports to Asia and particularly to China,” said Alexei Miller, Chairman of the Management Board of Gazprom JSC in an interview for Sueddeutsche Zeitung, quoted by BGNES.

The daily noted that the Russian concern, which controls one-sixth of the world’s gas supplies, could in a few minutes close the valves of the pipelines, transporting natural gas to Europe.

Germany now covers some 40% of its natural gas needs with supplies from Russia.The country will become more dependent after the decision for the suspension of the German Nuclear Power Plants (NPP), adopted recently by the Government, since the capacity of its Thermo – electric Power Plants operating on natural gas should be increased.

The last NPP in Germany will be closed down in 2022. Therefore, the country intends to build new gas plants and to develop an energy system, based on coals and alternative energy sources. Berlin admitted that the share of Russian natural gas would increase substantially in the energy balance of the country.

In this context, the Gazprom concern announced its forecasts that by 2020 Europe will need some 380 billion cu m. of gas per year, and by 2030 - 440 billion cu m.

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