Europe “joins forces” to fight gas with Russia

This pipeline is 508 km long and can transport about 2 billion m .³ gas per year in both directions. In fact, the first flow through this pipeline began on May 1.

“Thanks to the existing network, Latvia, Estonia and Finland also have access to this European gas pipeline system. This is an important step towards promoting EU gas independence, reducing the risk of gas dependence. depends on Russia,” says the official website of the European Union.

On May 4, the European Commission proposed a sixth package of EU sanctions against Russia, including a ban on Russian oil purchases. If approved by the 27 member states, the oil ban would be the EU’s toughest move yet against Russia’s energy sector.

Russian energy group Gazprom last week blocked the flow valve to supply gas to Poland and Bulgaria because they do not accept payments in rubles.

Part of the new Polish – Lithuanian gas pipeline. Photo: European Union

Russian supply cuts risk causing shortages not only in the aforementioned countries, but possibly throughout Europe.

However, connecting and sharing between European countries can help reduce the risk of Russia putting energy pressure on a particular country in the bloc. “Today, we inaugurate the pipeline demonstrating our energy independence,” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said at the ceremony outside the capital Vilnius.

Polish President Andrzej Duda stressed that they are ready to completely remove Russian gas if necessary.

The Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia at the end of April also announced to stop importing Russian gas and will use their reserves.

“This connectivity is another step in helping us to fully integrate into the internal EU energy market. This diversification is intended to help us get rid of our dependence on Russian gas” – Energy Commissioner EU Kadri Simson said – “This has become even more important after Russia’s unilateral decision to stop supplying gas to Poland and the Baltic States’ decision not to import Russian gas.”

It is known that the construction cost of the new gas pipeline is up to 500 million euros and most of the money is funded by the EU.