The flow of natural gas through a key Russian-controlled pipeline suddenly stopped Wednesday as tensions continue to increase between Russia and the West.
The Yamal-Europe pipeline’s liquified natural gas (LNG) flows, which are operated by Russian state-run firm Gazprom and have usually been pumped westward from Russia to Germany through Poland, were halted early Wednesday, European data showed, according to Reuters.
The sudden stoppage reportedly represented a setback after leaders expected the pipeline to return to its normal flow pattern.
In December 2021, Gazprom slowed the pipeline’s gas flows, which represent 10% of the region’s supply, and the company reversed the flow direction from westward to eastward.
The sudden reversal sent natural gas prices, which had already spiked amid a European energy crisis, even higher.
Gazprom and the Russian government said that the alteration was a “commercial” decision and that customers would continue to receive purchased gas.
But geopolitical tensions between Russia and members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have increased over the last several weeks, potentially putting Europe’s energy supply at risk.
Russia controls nearly 46% of European gas imports, according to European Union data.
“A disruption in the physical energy supplies transiting Ukraine would, clearly, most acutely affect natural gas markets in Europe,” a senior Biden administration official told reporters last week.
“And so we’re engaging our European allies to coordinate our response planning, including talking to them how they deploy their existing energy stockpiles, which are, obviously, at significantly low levels this year due to the reduced Russian supplies over the last several months,” the official said.
On Jan. 25, the White House announced it would help facilitate greater non-Russian natural gas flows into Europe. Such imports would come from North Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the U.S.
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Don’t expect business sense from the Left. Ontario has recently demolished 3 large coal fired generating stations, Lakeview, Nanticoke and Lambton. The power lines were left useless.
Lakeview is now a dog park, Nanticoke is a solar ‘farm’ and I don’t know what Lambton will become. Do the socialists want us to go without? I believe that defines them. The only power that they respect is political.
Yes, very interesting that someone would suggest solar power when during the coldest months of the year when they need the power the most they only get a few hours of sunlight if in fact they even get clear sky conditions. Don’t even mention all the pollution recreated when the solar panels wear out and need to be scrapped.
When will the people start holding the politicians to account?
The pollies basically have ‘a tiger by the tail’. If they let go they will be torn to shreds.
Next thing, Schumer will tell Europe they failed to prepare for climate change … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHsjpWmNyFI
Energy independence is valuable and achievable, so why you narrow down your fuel mix and paint yourself into a corner? Germany is weakened because of their anti carbon politics. Now they’re being forced to decide who they crawl into bed with, Uncle Sam or Vladimir. It didn’t have to be this way.
Germany not only weakened itself with their anti-carbon politics but also shutting down their perfectly operable nuclear power plants. Can a country do more to sabotage their economy when they have the energy needed right under their ground?
Germany should be able to restart those nuclear power stations if they haven’t begun dismantling the facilities. California is considering to halt the decommissioning of Diablo Canyon power station because some in the PUC are realizing there ain’t enough renewables to truly fulfill the power need of the state. Sadly the San Onofre power station is in advanced demolition and cannot be restarted, though it would be wise if the site could be used for a next generation reactor that isn’t totally water cooled; the transmission infrastructure is still there, why waste it?
And soon they will be cutting off the Utilities of all those who reject this whole Global Warming/Climate Change load of Malarkey here in America just like them doing with those who refuse to be vaccinated