What goes on in Poland on the 9th of June.
Simson: Gazprom needs no excuses to cut off gas to Europe. We will help each other
During a conference in Denmark, EU energy commissioner Kadri Simson spoke about Gazprom and natural gas supplies to Europe. Gazprom does not need any excuses to cut them off, she said. – They will create them, but it does not depend on the actions of energy companies – said Simson.
– We have started preparations for the next winter with the proposal to introduce an obligation for their owners to fill underground gas storage facilities. This means that these units are now more full than at the same time last year. This gives us flexibility during the heating season. We presented the requirement for at least 80 percent fill by November 5, 2022. Of course, we know that some countries have been cut off, which shows what kind of a partner Gazprom is, and from our point of view, if one country is cut off, the rest helps it – she answered the question by BiznesAlert.pl.
– Consumers in Europe know that when they choose and buy any equipment, they brand the product. During the heating season, natural gas consumption is 40 percent higher than in summer, as millions of consumers use individual boilers to heat their homes. This is something that can be easily repaired by replacing it with heat pumps, Simson pointed out.
Birol: The war requires coal revival, but only temporarily
– We are in the middle of an energy crisis, the oil, gas and electricity markets are under a lot of pressure. I do not expect this crisis to end soon, and if we do not take the necessary measures, we may face a further rise in inflation, and I would not rule out a global recession. Especially for European countries, the situation on the oil and gas markets in the coming months may be very difficult. Europe is looking for additional sources of gas and oil supplies, including from the USA, the Middle East and Africa, but let’s not forget that another tool in the hands of governments is to reduce consumption. Savings can be found in transport and heating, said International Energy Agency director Fatih Birol.
He was asked whether he thought it was right to extend the operation of coal-fired power plants in Poland: – Remember that we are in a war and we must take action to stop the crisis. Some countries, such as Poland, are taking extraordinary measures, such as extending the life of coal-fired power plants. This is understandable as part of a collective response to Russia’s aggression, but I believe that this is a temporary solution and should not be a permanent element of our energy policy, replied the director of the IEA to a question by BiznesAlert.pl.