IEA calls on Russia to send more gas to Europe
before winter
World’s energy watchdog intervenes after Russia
decides not to increase exports despite record prices
Jillian
Ambrose Energy correspondent
Tue 21 Sep
2021 18.16 BST
The world’s
energy watchdog has called on Russia to send more gas to Europe as the energy
supply crunch bleeds across the continent, in a rare public rebuke of the
Kremlin.
The
International Energy Agency (IEA), which advises global governments on energy
policy, called out the gas-rich country for refusing to increase exports even
as fierce demand has driven market prices to successive record highs, appearing
to support claims that Russia is withholding supplies.
“The IEA
believes that Russia could do more to increase gas availability to Europe and
ensure storage is filled to adequate levels in preparation for the coming winter
heating season,” the Paris-based agency said.
“This is
also an opportunity for Russia to underscore its credentials as a reliable
supplier to the European market,” it said.
The IEA’s
intervention has come amid growing unease in Europe over Russia’s decision not
to increase gas exports to Europe next month, despite record gas market prices
across the continent.
It said
Russia had been “fulfilling its long-term contracts with European counterparts
– but its exports to Europe are down from their 2019 level”.
EU
politicians have accused the Kremlin of deliberately withholding gas supplies
while it awaits regulatory approval for a controversial pipeline project, Nord
Stream 2, which would double Russia’s capacity to export gas to Germany.
Russia is
not using all of its available pipeline capacity to export gas to Europe but
state officials and executives at the state-owned gas company Gazprom have
reportedly said it may increase gas sales to Europe once the pipeline has been
approved.
About 40 EU
politicians have asked the European Commission to investigate the role of
Gazprom’s behaviour in driving European gas prices to record levels.
The IEA’s
decision to speak out against Russia’s gas export policy as Europe’s crisis deepens
supports the view that Moscow has played a role in the crisis, alongside global
energy market drivers.
The IEA,
which is mostly funded by OECD countries, was originally set up to monitor
global oil supplies after the 1970s oil crisis, and provides independent advice
to major governments designed to safeguard international energy security.
Fatih
Birol, the executive director of the IEA, said: “Today’s situation is a
reminder to governments, especially as we seek to accelerate clean energy
transitions, of the importance of secure and affordable energy supplies –
particularly for the most vulnerable people in our societies.
“Well-managed
clean energy transitions are a solution to the issues that we are seeing in gas
and electricity markets today – not the cause of them.”
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