Mark Iden

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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

Route of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (© Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG)
Route of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (© Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG)

Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) Ready to Roll To Help Europe

Coming on the heels of Russia's announcement that it is prepared to divert gas supplies from Europe if punitive sanctions are imposed on its economy and leaders, Luca Schieppati, the Managing Director of the 870-km long Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), said that TAP is ready to expand its capacity one year in advance if needed to meet market demand.

The flags of the USA and Russia on a damaged wall (© Shutterstock/Morrowind)
The flags of the USA and Russia on a damaged wall (© Shutterstock/Morrowind)

Russia Ready To Divert Gas Supplies If Required

In the event of war in the Ukraine and the imposition of sanctions on the Russian economy and its leaders by the United States and its NATO allies, et al., Russia would be ready to re-route gas supplies to other markets, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said this past week.

Russia-China pipeline (© Adobe Stock/alexmlx)
Russia-China pipeline (© Adobe Stock/alexmlx)

Power of Siberia 2 Pipeline Puts Ever More Pressure on Europe

Russia has agreed to a 30-year contract to supply gas to China via Power of Siberia 2, a new 2600-km pipeline originating in the Bovanenkovo and Kharasavey gas fields in Yamal,  bolstering an energy alliance with Beijing amid Moscow's strained ties with the West over Ukraine and other issues.

Algeria on the map (© Shutterstock/Naruedom Yaempongsa)
Algeria on the map (© Shutterstock/Naruedom Yaempongsa)

The United States Looks To Algeria As An Alternative To Russian Gas For Europe

With the prospect of war looming over the European continent, the US Government has begun asking Eni, TotalEnergies and other energy companies operating in Algeria to see if more gas can be sourced from the country, sources familiar with the matter said.

Flags of the EU and Russia (© Shutterstock/ruskpp)
Flags of the EU and Russia (© Shutterstock/ruskpp)

Czech Foreign Minister Says Russia's Actions Have Improved European Diversity of Supply

Jan Lipavsky, the Czech Foreign Minister, said yesterday that  Russian President Vladimir Putin gave Europe a great Christmas gift this past year as the ongoing gas crisis showed that alternatives exist.

Sign outside of the Department of State in Washington, DC (© Shutterstock/Mark Van Scyoc)
Sign outside of the Department of State in Washington, DC (© Shutterstock/Mark Van Scyoc)

EastMed Natural Gas Pipeline Deserving Of US Support

At the beginning of this month the United States withdrew its support for the EastMed gas pipeline, a major developmental pipeline project that would have connected significant gas deposits in the territorial waters of Cyprus, Egypt and Israel to markets in Europe. Ultimately the EastMed would have integrated these countries electricity grids with those of Europe.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (© Shutterstock/Alexandros Michailidis)
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (© Shutterstock/Alexandros Michailidis)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen Throws Down Gauntlet on Nord Stream 2

Speaking with unusual bluntness, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at EU headquarters in Brussels that the launch of Nord Stream 2 depends on whether Russia invades  Ukraine.

Pressure gauge on a gas pipeline (© Shutterstock/Iren Moroz)
Pressure gauge on a gas pipeline (© Shutterstock/Iren Moroz)

For A Brief Moment It Appeared As If Russian Gas Via Yamal Would Begin Flowing Westward

Natural gas flows from Russia to Germany via the Yamal pipeline came to a halt on Wednesday, data from the German network operator Gascade showed, dashing expectations it was about to pump gas west for the first time since December.  

Gas through the Yamal pipeline, which typically flows west into Germany, has been in reverse mode, flowing east to Poland, since Dec. 21.