
Coal in August, Oil in December: Germany Cuts off Russia
Kukies said that weaning from European reliance on the 158 billion cubic metres (bcm) per year of gas that Russia supplies is the block’s biggest energy challenge.

Kukies said that weaning from European reliance on the 158 billion cubic metres (bcm) per year of gas that Russia supplies is the block’s biggest energy challenge.

Le Pen highlighted the absurdity of Europeans purchasing oil and gas from India, which itself purchased them from Russia.
OPEC’s Secretary General, without executive power in the strict sense, usually plays a decisive diplomatic role in facilitating discussions between producer countries with often divergent interests.

With German gas reserves at a precariously low level for winter, Germany has decided to continue shunning nuclear energy, and has opted to reactivate coal plants.

India and the Middle East have become a significant outlet for Russia crude oil sales, as well as a loophole for the US and European countries to continue importing Russian oil.

Hungary’s staunch opposition to a blanket ban on Russian oil provided cover for other countries also hesitant to unplug from Russia oil.

Fresh sanctions targeting Russian oil have been a source of worry for landlocked EU member states, such as Hungary. Ironing out a deal has therefore been fraught with hurdles.

Experts warn that cutting off Russian oil imports will increase the price of gasoline for European consumers. They also caution that delayed onset of the sanctions will only give Russia time to sell its oil elsewhere before losing European business, weakening the effects of the sanctions.

The situations in Ukraine and Libya, unrelated as they seem, illustrate the fragility of European energy architecture, and highlight the need for Europe to develop both energy independence and the ability to exert power in the maintenance of stability in its geopolitical neighborhood.

German and U.S. governments capitulate to oppressive regimes in their search for Russian energy and oil alternatives.