Opinion

Pipelines between Russia and Europe (© Shutterstock/vchal)
Pipelines between Russia and Europe (© Shutterstock/vchal)

[Opinion] The Seeds Of European Reliance On Russian Gas And Pipelines

More than four decades ago the CIA warned in a memorandum to then President Ronald Reagan that "the 5,633-km gas pipeline from Siberia to Germany is a direct threat to the future of Western Europe, it said, creating 'serious repercussions' from a dangerous reliance on Russian fuel."

Nord stream 2 shut down (© Shutterstock/mmaroznaya)
Nord stream 2 shut down (© Shutterstock/mmaroznaya)

[Opinion] Europe Without Nord Stream 2

A few months ago, around the time that the final pipeline segments were put down into the Baltic to complete construction of the 1200-km Nord Stream 2, we wrote on these pages that Nord Stream 2 was experiencing a painful and difficult birth.  Fast forward to today and the threatening massive ground war in the Ukraine and possibly other countries in Europe since 1945, we've entered a diffe

The flag of Russia and Ukraine painted on a concrete wall with soldiers' shadows (© Shutterstock/Tomas Ragina)
The flag of Russia and Ukraine painted on a concrete wall with soldiers' shadows (© Shutterstock/Tomas Ragina)

[Opinion] Nord Stream 2 At The Epicenter Of Russia's Conflict With The West

Every few years one sees the name and thought of Carl von Clausewitz, the famous Prussian strategist, dug out of the historical archives when geopolitical tensions and the threat of war are cresting.

The route of Nord Stream 2 (© Shutterstock/Rainer Lesniewski)
The route of Nord Stream 2 (© Shutterstock/Rainer Lesniewski)

[Opinion] Nord Stream 2: Time To Circle The Wagons on Unbundling

“Higher gas prices in Europe are a consequence of a deficit of energy and not vice versa and that’s why we should not deal in blame shifting, this is what our partners are trying to do." Vladimir Putin, Russian Energy Week, 13 - 15 October 2021.

Libyan national flag (copyright by Shutterstock/Leo Altman)
Libyan national flag (copyright by Shutterstock/Leo Altman)

[Opinion] Re-Integrating the Libyan Pipeline Networks

Libya is one of OPEC members and possesses 7 Oil Exporting Ports along the 2,000 km on the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, giving it the advantage of being the most attractive customer to the European Refineries, besides its crude high API viscosity. In the last decade, Libya suffered from political conflict and security instability.

A protester pours gasoline on a fire blocking North Dakota Highway 1806 on Oct. 27, 2016, north of Cannon Ball. Protesters of the Dakota Access Pipeline were attempting to keep law enforcement officers from pushing them off the road and out of their camp. (copyright by INFORUM)
A protester pours gasoline on a fire blocking North Dakota Highway 1806 on Oct. 27, 2016, north of Cannon Ball. Protesters of the Dakota Access Pipeline were attempting to keep law enforcement officers from pushing them off the road and out of their camp. (copyright by INFORUM)

[Opinion] Let's see violent pipeline protesters the way we see violent Trump supporters

The problem is not opposing pipelines and oil production, or believing the 2020 election was somehow stolen from Trump, though I, and I suspect many of you, find both positions to be equivalently wrong-headed. The problem is people who have concluded that their cause is so righteous they are justified in scaring and even hurting other people to get their way.

[Opinion] We must answer the call for a solution to the illegal tapping challenge

The tragic incident in Mexico makes it clear that pipeline tapping is becoming an increasing problem. A problem that not only costs human lives and causes enormous material damage, but also a problem that undermines public confidence in the pipeline transport systems and their operators.

[Opinion] Illegal tapping is a problem not only in Mexico. Together we can fix it

The recent accident in Mexico is a source of great disappointment and sadness among all of us in the international pipeline community. The illegal tapping problem has been growing uncontrollably for the last 15 years throughout the world. Some countries recognize this, whereas others do not.