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Europe may shift back to coal as Russia turns down gas flows

As supplies of Russian gas dwindle, the EU signals a shift to coal accusing Russia of 'rogue moves'.

AP

IEA chief Fatih Birol warns Russia may continue to find excuses to cut supplies.

The European Union will temporarily shift back to coal to cope with slowing Russian gas flows, an EU official confirmed, as a tight gas market and rocketing prices set off a race for alternative fuels.

European leaders have rounded on Russia as flows through its Nord Stream 1 pipeline were cut to just 40 percent of capacity, deepening an energy standoff after the conflict of Ukraine prompted Europe to impose tough sanctions on Moscow.

To cope with gas shortfalls, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said Europe must replace Russian energy supplies while boosting efficiency and renewables, including nuclear power.

In a statement to Reuters, IEA chief Fatih Birol warned Russia might continue to find excuses to cut supplies or halt them altogether as winter approached. Russia has denied that its supply cuts are premeditated.

Another flashpoint in the energy crisis could come in the Baltics.

Lithuania's president told Reuters her country was ready for Russia shutting it out of a common power grid in retaliation for its blocking of rail shipments of some Russian goods to Moscow's Kaliningrad exclave.

The Kremlin has promised retaliation without specifying what form it could take.

Europe will temporarily pursue fossil fuel alternatives to Russian gas in light of President Vladimir Putin's actions but these moves will not derail longer term climate change objectives, a senior European Commission official said.

"The unlawful invasion by Russia of Ukraine has resulted in an emergency situation in the EU," Elina Bardram, acting director for International Affairs and Climate Finance at the European Commission, told the Africa Energy Forum in Brussels.

"With the very rogue moves we are observing from the Putin administration in terms of Gazprom lowering the flow very suddenly, we are doing some very important measures, but all of those measures are temporary," she added, referring to boosting coal use.

Exploring alternatives

Countries have outlined a series of measures to withstand a supply crisis to tackle worries about winter energy shortages and an inflation spike that could test Europe's resolve to maintain sanctions on Russia.

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner on Tuesday evening said there was a danger of serious economic crisis and underlined the need for alternatives to overcome three or more years of energy scarcity.

Flows of Russian gas to Europe via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline and deliveries through Ukraine were steady on Wednesday, but remained significantly lower than last week when Gazprom curbed capacity, citing technical issues.

Italian energy company ENI's request for gas from Gazprom on Wednesday was only partially confirmed.

Europe's benchmark gas price was trading at around $133 per megawatt hour (MWh), below this year's peak of $353 but still up more than 300 per cent on its level a year ago.

Europe is scrambling to fill winter gas storage - now at 55 percent - as it fears further disruptions in supply from Russia, which has already cut off some customers.

Lindner's warning came after Germany's BDI industry association said recession in Europe's largest economy would be inevitable if Russia halts gas deliveries.

The EU and other developed economies have sanctioned Russian oil and coal but held off banning gas imports.

Shoring up ageing nuclear infrastructure might provide a respite to high power prices and tight supplies, the IEA said.

"In light of renewed interest in nuclear power's role in clean energy transitions, the war has underscored the need to explore options for ... investment in new facilities as well as the reopening of existing (uranium) conversion plants."

More broadly, the $2.4 trillion set to be invested in energy this year included record spending on renewables but fell short of plugging a supply gap and tackling climate change, the IEA said.

SOURCE: TRTWorld and agencies