The adoption by the American Senate of the law on new sanctions against Moscow sheds light on the doctrine of trump, who is committed to making the United States the main energy power in the world.
With the grace of the word in a China shop Washington wants to ban European companies to participate in the construction of new pipeline “Nord stream-2” which should pass from Russia to Germany. Team trump modestly offers Europe to buy American shale gas to create jobs in the United States and to save financial situation of their gas companies.
To better understand this conflict one should look at it from several angles.
Russia: construction of the “Nord stream-2”
The beginning of the conflict marked the start of construction of the pipeline “Nord stream-2” from Russia to Germany. He should go the route of his predecessor and to obtain a throughput of 55 billion cubic meters per year from 2019.
A month ago, European companies Engie, OMV, Shell, Uniper and Wintershall signed an agreement with Gazprom on investment 50% required for project implementation amount to 9.5 billion euros.
USA: the new “greatness”
The American dream gas to send to Europe for a high price, their surplus of shale gas. European tariffs four times higher than the us, making the local market a priority for mining shale gas businesses in the United States that continue to lose astronomical sums.
Apparently, the news about the construction of “Nord stream-2” and enhancing energy dependence of Europe from Russia was a blow to US plans.
Source farcical stunt was U.S. Senate, which is “alleged intervention of the Russian authorities to the presidential campaign of 2016 and the implementation of the Minsk agreement with Ukraine” as a basis shit blocking the construction of “Nord stream-2”. In the result of participating in the project of German and Austrian companies can face serious sanctions.
The United States seeks to prevent the implementation of the “Nord stream-2” because that, in their opinion, is “a threat to Europe’s energy security, gas market development in Central and Eastern Europe, energy reforms in Ukraine”.
For the entry of the law into force to its approval by the President trump and the Congress.
Ukraine: 2 billion at stake
Ukraine receives from Russia almost $ 2 billion a year for transportation of gas to Europe. Bypass Ukraine will allow Vladimir Putin to significantly reduce payments and to force Kiev to accept market rates for a new supply.
To clearly mark your territory, Donald trump personally met with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko in the oval office and even wrote about this tweet. It says a lot about the importance of the meeting.
Germany: back
Angela Merkel dismissed the dissatisfaction of Poland and other Eastern European countries about the construction of the pipeline. As usual, the interests of Germany rise above the European considerations.
In seeking to encourage economic growth and to ensure the production of electricity Berlin relies on a direct link between Russian gas reserves and their businesses, even if it is not to the liking of other members of the EU.
In addition, participation in the “Nord stream 2” has declared such important German companies like BASF and E. ON.
Austria: a heavy blow
The Austrian company OMV Aktiengesellschaft is one of the pillars of the country and is involved in the consortium. The US directly targeted to this enterprise, and Vienna times already with great caution applies to territorial reasons, such sanctions look very serious.
Europe: financing Ukraine’s energy independence
Brussels is not the best way embraced this project, as it allows Germany to directly receive gas from Russia under the noses of other EU countries and to increase energy the importance of Moscow for the continent.
In addition, Europe’s doubts related to the fact that it provides financial support to Ukraine. Brussels would have to plug with taxpayers ‘ money, the financial hole after the loss of Ukraine’s payment for Russian gas transit.
Finally, the Russian gas leads to the emission of 120 million tonnes of CO2 per year, thereby increasing the already soaring up the temperature.
Donald trump pledged to strengthen the energy power of the United States. The first object of its testing becomes Europe. Bend or whether the Europeans will still be able to present a United front? About Brussels, there are serious doubts…
As for Germany, at stake is its competitiveness, and German industry is unlikely to bow to Washington.
The summer promises to be hot, very hot!
