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The cutoff of most Russian pipeline gas because of the war in Ukraine has sparked a winter energy crisis in Europe. Russian deliveries were close to normal for the first half of the year. The country has since turned off all but a trickle of gas, and even that could be unavailable next year.
On top of that, if China’s imports of LNG recover to 2021 levels, that could consume over 85 percent of the expected increase in global supply. China’s economy has been weakening due in part to strict COVID-19 restrictions.
That all means Europe could face a shortfall of 30 billion cubic meters of gas next summer, the key period for filling supplies ahead of the winter heating season, when there is stronger demand for the fuel. The figure represents almost half the gas required to fill storage facilities in Europe to 95 percent capacity before the 2023-2024 winter starts.
European Union governments have committed to reduce gas consumption by 15 percent over the winter and are pushing conservation and renewables.
Use by industry has fallen as prices have grown, and a campaign to buy LNG that comes by ship from countries like the US and Qatar succeeded in filling storage to 95 percent, according to figures compiled by Gas Infrastructure Europe, an association of companies that operate pipelines, underground storage and LNG facilities.
Remaining pipeline gas and LNG have become much more expensive — almost 70 percent higher than a year ago even as prices have dropped in recent months — fueling inflation, straining consumer budgets and hurting companies that are heavy users of energy.
Blasting Brussels’ inability to counteract soaring energy prices, French gas association AFG’s President Jean-Marc Leroy told Politico that EU leaders “have not really understood the magnitude of the situation”.
He warned that inaction at EU level could “destroy the single market”.
READ MORE: Ukraine fears Russian trap amid reports of retreat
The IEA said Europe benefited from some Russian gas supplies over the summer and sharply reduced competition from China for scarce shiploads of liquefied natural gas, or LNG, and those factors could be one-offs, the Paris-based organisation said.
Along with mild weather, that has pushed down natural gas prices from August highs.
“With the recent mild weather and lower gas prices, there is a danger of complacency creeping into the conversation around Europe’s gas supplies, but we are by no means out of the woods yet,” IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said.
“This is why governments need to be taking immediate action to speed up improvements in energy efficiency and accelerate the deployment of renewables and heat pumps — and other steps to structurally reduce gas demand.”
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