A natural gas plant in Algiers (northern Algeria) in 2018. Photo: Getty
According to a draft document of the European Union (EU) cited by Bloomberg news on May 3, the EU is focusing on Africa’s large untapped oil and gas reserves, considering it an important alternative. important for Russia’s energy supply.
In the context of sanctions against Russia, the EU needs time to realize energy diversification, the “ordinance requiring payment in rubles” for Russian natural gas is really a problem. problems facing the EU.
The EU intends to issue a more detailed guide in the coming days on what European companies can and cannot do in response to Russia’s request for gas payments in rubles.
To replace Russian gas, EU targets Africa
According to a draft EU document, African countries, especially Nigeria, Senegal and Angola in the western part of the African continent, have sources of liquefied natural gas, Bloomberg news agency reported on May 3. LNG) large untapped; and the European Commission (EC) later this month will adopt a document on increasing external energy supplies, as part of a plan to reduce dependence on Russian energy.
The BBC news agency (UK) also reported that major European gas companies are paying close attention to African countries such as Algeria, Nigeria and Tanzania… trying to reach energy exploitation agreements with them.
Taking the example of the Rome-based multinational oil and gas group Eni SpA, in April, this group reached energy cooperation agreements with a number of African countries.
In mid-April, Eni SpA said it had signed an LNG supply agreement with the Egyptian Natural Gas Corporation (EGAS). Under the newly signed agreement, Egypt will export about 3 billion m3 of LNG to Italy this year through Eni SpA. At the same time, Eni SpA will also accelerate oil and gas exploration in the western deserts of Egypt, the Nile Delta and the Mediterranean Sea…
Then, at the end of April, Eni SpA signed an agreement with the Republic of Congo to increase the supply of natural gas to more than 4.5 billion cubic meters per year from the country. Under the agreement, Eni SpA will accelerate the implementation of LNG projects to start exploitation from 2023.
The EU plans to replace Russian gas with energy imported from Africa. Photo: Bloomberg
In addition to Eni SpA, leading oil and gas groups such as Shell of the UK, Equinor of Norway and Exxon Mobil of the US have also successively planned to explore oil and gas in African countries such as Tanzania.
According to the BBC, over the past decade, Europe has imported about 18 percent of its natural gas from Africa, and Europe is now preparing to increase this share. With more and more oil wells coming into production, oil and gas production in Africa will increase significantly in the second half of this century, and the rate of extraction will also increase.
Russia says Europe puts pressure on African countries
According to Sputnik news agency (Russia), Europe’s increase in energy cooperation with Africa is also due to the political needs of “anti-Russian” people.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution suspending Russia’s membership in the UN Human Rights Council on April 7. Photo: Reuters
Sputnik on May 3 quoted Russian Ambassador to Angola, Vladimir Tararov, as saying that Western countries are putting great pressure on African countries to force them to condemn Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
“I know that they (Angola) are under great pressure from Western countries who are calling on them to condemn Russia. But they have made it clear that they will contribute to the establishment of peace and will try. do their best so that the two sides can reach an agreement,” Mr. Tararov said.
According to Mr. Tararov, the West is “intimidation and coercion” Africa’s countries; and under this great pressure, African countries “almost impossible to resist”.
Tararov also emphasized that, at the United Nations General Assembly on April 7, many African countries abstained from the resolution to suspend Russia’s membership in the United Nations Human Rights Council. “meaning they do not support the resolution but also dare not vote against, because the pressure is too great”.
at Blogtuan.info – Source: Soha.vn – Read the original article here
