The consequences of rising gas prices to $4,000 per 1,000 cubic meters will be very difficult for Europe: the European Union is waiting for rising inflation, a deterioration in the quality of life of people and a wave of economic crisis. On August 16, Izvestia was informed by the director of external relations of BitRiver Andrey Loboda.
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Earlier on Tuesday, on spot exchanges in Europe, gas prices broke through $2,600 per 1,000 cubic meters. m. According to conservative estimates, if the trend continues, prices may exceed $4,000, Gazprom said.
“In Europe, all available energy carriers are consistently becoming more expensive: due to the energy crisis associated with low gas supplies and the approaching heating season, coal, fuel oil, and diesel have become more expensive,” Loboda said.
According to the expert, negative events in the form of rising prices for consumers, lack of energy resources and developing political contradictions between European countries occur, among other things, due to a violation of the Nord Stream equipment maintenance schedule and a record decline in gas supplies from Russia to Europe.
At the end of July, experts interviewed by Izvestia noted that a number of factors would determine the price of gas in Europe in the future. In August, it will also remain at a high level, in the region of $2,000–2,500 per 1,000 cubic meters. m.
Also in July, Express columnist Charlie Bradley warned Europe of a “nightmare scenario” if Gazprom cut fuel exports through the Nord Stream pipeline. In his opinion, the consequences of this situation will be felt most strongly by the inhabitants of Germany.
On August 9, the head of the Federal Network Agency of Germany, Klaus Müller, called on European countries to save gas in order to stabilize prices. According to him, in order for European countries to survive the autumn and winter, gas consumption must be reduced by 20%.
Gas supplies have fallen due to problems with the return of the turbine for Nord Stream, which arose as a result of anti-Russian sanctions. So, on June 14 and 15, Gazprom announced the shutdown of two, and then another gas pumping units serving the pipeline. The company could not return turbines from maintenance from Canada.
After negotiations between Berlin and Ottawa, the Canadian side returned the turbine to the German side, but so far the equipment has not been delivered to the Portovaya distribution station in Russia. Gazprom noted that there is no sufficient documentary evidence of the technical condition of the turbine, which does not guarantee the safety of its connection and gas transportation. In addition, the company wants to be sure that Western countries do not then impose new sanctions on the equipment.