Europe will soon face a shortage of gas and rising prices for this fuel, if instead of increasing purchases from Gazprom, it will try to cover the growing demand to rely on the import of liquefied gas from the United States. This was stated by the deputy head of the Russian concern Gazprom, Alexander Medvedev, who oversees export issues.

"Europe has completely miscalculated, believing that it will not need significant additional volumes of gas, and if it is required, it will fill the shortage by deliveries from outside Russia," Medvedev said.. According to him, the demand for gas in Europe is increasing, while the production of this fuel in the Netherlands is declining, and gas production in Norway will slow after 2025. As for supplies from the US, they, in the opinion of the representative of Gazprom, remain modest, expensive and will focus primarily on Asia.

Medvedev noted that Russia's share in gas supplies to Europe has now increased against the backdrop of growing demand to 35 percent and can reach 40 percent. "Many serious analysts have developed a model that shows that Europe will soon face a major shortage of gas and, worse, with a sharp rise in prices for this fuel," Medvedev said..

Alexander Medvedev criticized the calls in the West to reduce dependence on Russian gas. "Concerning the statements about the need to reduce dependence on Russian gas, do we in Russia, perhaps, also talk about excessive dependence on money only from one continent? For example, from the dollar or the euro? In fact, we all depend on each other" , he pointed out.

In connection with Russia's plans to start large gas deliveries to China, Medvedev assured that Russia will be able to deliver the right amount of gas to Europe, even if it enters a new market in China. "But Europe must decide now.

She needs to think about who will cover additional requests for gas after 2025. Unfortunately, at present, there is no dialogue between Russia and the EU on energy issues, "stated the representative of Gazprom,.

Medvedev also stressed that even the construction of two new Nord Stream-2 and Turkish Stream gas pipelines by Gazprom will not compensate for gas shortages in Europe against the backdrop of growing demand and reduced production of this fuel.

Source: DW.