Natural Gas In Europe: Fill & Download for Free

Nordstream 2 is not just a gas pipeline. It is actually an electrical cable. Russia has been working on a number of revolutionary energy technologies that will dramatically reduce the cost of electricity in the 21st Century. For the past decade the US has been exporting excess US natural gas generated from fracking to Europe. When Nordstream 2 comes online, Russian electricity will push American natural gas out of the European market. The Americans are also anxious that Russia will gain political influence in Europe from its electricity sales. Russia will be in a monopolistic position when it comes to these technologies. Eventually, Norway will be able to produce some electricity in this manner. However, the area that Norway will be harvesting the energy from is adjacent to Russia’s largest naval base and one of the most heavily defended points in Russia.

The one they chose already.This is a map of the natural gas pipelines that go from the Russian interior to Central Europe.This natural gas pipeline represents not only a significant chunk of the Russian economy, but also the biggest chunk in the power and wealth of the oligarchs that control Russia. Which means that if anything happened to this pipeline, it would spell disaster for whatever leader caused this to happen.Europe, meanwhile, is also dependent on this pipeline for their natural gas, which they use to produce electricity. If anything happened to this pipeline, that means that entire countries grind to a halt. No power. No manufacturing. Any natural gas has to be imported. From the Americans if they like you. And be prepared to be charged out the ass for it, because we literally burn it in the well because it’s too cheap to be sold profitably and if you think the oil execs are going to pass up that opportunity you are sorely mistaken.So Russia can’t piss of Europe or its economic heart is in danger. And Europe can’t piss off Russia unless they want to say goodbye to their power.It’s an economic suicide pact that frankly ingenious, in my opinion.

Russia has already constructed two natural gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea in 2011–2012 as part of the Nord Stream project. There is also a smaller pipeline called Blue Stream which transports natural gas from Russia to Turkey under the Black Sea.Currently Russia is working on two additional pipeline projects. Russia and Turkey are nearing completion of the Turk Stream pipeline, which will carry natural gas from Russia to Turkey and then to southern European countries. The second project is Nord Stream 2, which is aimed at increasing Russia’s natural gas exports to Germany.The basic idea behind these underwater pipelines is to eliminate intermediary transit countries in natural gas trade between Russia and Europe/Turkey. Prior to the construction of these pipelines, the vast majority of Russian natural gas flowed to Europe through Ukraine and other Eastern European countries before it reached major clients in southern, central and western Europe. This meant that Russia had to share its revenue with the transit countries, and the price for clients in areas farther removed from Russia was higher. In addition, Europe’s demand for natural gas imports continues to grow, and both parties are interested in additional transit options.For Russia, it is particularly important to cut out Ukraine as the major transit country in Russia’s natural gas trade. Once construction of Nord Stream 2 is completed, Ukraine stands lose a very large share of the transit business while Russia will increase its revenue from natural gas exports. Germany is interested in these projects because it allows for direct transportation of natural gas from Russia to Germany and turns Germany into a major European gas hub.