NPR reports on the Conflict in Ukraine and Gas Supplies
The US National Public Radio featured a piece on “There’s a complication in sanctioning Russia — it could cut Europe’s gas supply”.
President Biden and the president of the European Commission have promised to work together to make Europe less dependent on Russian natural gas. About a third of the European Union’s gas comes from Russia. And if Russia invades Ukraine and the EU imposes more sanctions, there’s fear that Moscow could cut off supplies at a time when prices are already high.
Among other experts, Natalia Fabra was interviewed on the role that Spain can play in this crisis and the alternatives to gas shortages. She argues that Spain is at the head of the EU in terms of regasification capacity, which has allowed it to become the gas transit country for Europe. Renewable energy is also an alternative, but the EU must speed up building infrastructure. There has been a massive increase in renewable energy investments, which reduces the need to import gas. But the action has not been in line with the needs and the urgencies. We react when we face the problem, but we do little to try to prevent and mitigate before that happens.