Why does Europe rely on Russian gas?

Gazprom supplied almost a third of all gas consumed in Europe in 2020 and will likely become an even more important source in the short term as the continent shrinks domestic production. Russian gas is attractive because it’s usually cheap and almost always available.

What is the Nord Stream 2 pipeline?

What is Nord Stream 2? It’s a 1,230-kilometer (764-mile) pipeline that doubles the capacity of the existing undersea route from Russian gas fields to Europe — the original Nord Stream — which opened in 2011 and can handle 55 billion cubic meters per year.

Does Germany approve Nord Stream 2?

Germany has suspended its approval process for the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline which would double its reliance on Russian gas following growing geopolitical pressure to scrap the project.

What is the pipeline from Russia to Germany?

Nord Stream
Nord Stream (former names: North Transgas and North European Gas Pipeline; Russian: Северный поток, Severny potok) is a system of offshore natural gas pipelines in Europe, running under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany.

Which country is the largest supplier of natural gas to European Union?

Russia
Russia is the main EU supplier of crude oil, natural gas and solid fossil fuels.

Where does Europe’s gas come from?

Most of the UK’s gas comes via pipelines from Norway — the continent’s largest producer after Russia — or as shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG), predominantly from Qatar, and more recently from the US and Russia. The UK also imports a small proportion of its gas via pipelines from the Netherlands and Belgium.

Who is building Nord Stream 2?

Nord Stream 2 AG
The pipeline crosses into the exclusive economic zones of five countries: Russia, Germany, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden. Nord Stream 2 is being built by Nord Stream 2 AG, a consortium incorporated in Switzerland.

Where does Ukraine get its natural gas?

Traditionally Ukraine imports natural gas mainly from Turkmenistan and Russia (about two-thirds of its gas in 2012). Since November 2012 Ukraine is diversifying its suppliers of imported natural gas.

Where is Nord Stream 2?

Nord Stream 2 stretches for 1,200 kilometres from Vyborg in Russia through the Baltic Sea to Lubmin in Germany, bypassing Ukraine and Poland.

Who owns the Nord Stream 2 pipeline?

Gazprom international projects LLC
Nord Stream 2 AG is a project company established for planning, construction and subsequent operation of the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline. The company is based in Zug, Switzerland and owned by Gazprom international projects LLC, a PJSC Gazprom subsidiary.

Where does Russia get its gas?

Russia supplies about 50\% of the EU’s natural gas imports. Most of the rest comes from Norway and Algeria. Russia sends gas to Europe through several main pipelines – such as the Nord Stream, the Yamal-Europe and the Brotherhood.

What’s going on with the Russia-Germany gas pipeline?

A briefing between the State Department and congressional staff over Vladimir Putin’s Russia-Germany gas pipeline got tense this week, with Biden officials deflecting questions about why they hadn’t moved faster and more aggressively with sanctions to stop its completion.

What does Biden’s agreement with Germany mean for Ukraine?

The Biden administration has reached an agreement with German Chancellor Angela Merkel that allows for the completion of a controversial natural gas pipeline between Russia and Germany. This Russian pipeline threatens the national security not only of Ukraine, but also of all of Europe.

Is the US negotiating a side deal with Germany on pipeline?

During the call, Molly Montgomery, the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, denied that the U.S. is negotiating with Germany on a potential side deal to allow the pipeline to proceed.

Should Biden’s officials tell Congress what the pipeline is?

One of the Biden officials told the congressional staffers that if they had more information about entities involved in the pipeline, they should say what it is. Earlier this month, bipartisan members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken naming these suspected vessels.