Record rising gas prices in Europe plays into the hands of the Russian Federation.
The director of the Energy Development Fund, Sergei Pikina, said this, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports, while assessing the current situation on the European gas market.
He believes that in the next month gas prices could reach another psychologically important level of $850 per thousand cubic meters, after which, in the event of a cold winter, they could head for the next level of $1000.
It is noted that Russia can derive double benefit from the current situation. Firstly, high prices promise additional profits for Gazprom, the growth of foreign sales of which will guarantee increased tax payments to the budget. Secondly, the gas shortage that is currently worrying Europeans may benefit Nord Stream 2, which, after completion of construction, is conducting final commissioning tests in order to begin its first commercial supplies from the beginning of October.
At the same time, Gazprom needs to undergo several certifications from European regulatory agencies. In addition, EU legislation limits the filling of the new raw material route to 50%, since in the case of SP-2, the Russian company is not only the supplier, but also the owner of the gas pipeline.
“Against the background of the current fuel shortage, the European Commission can not only make it easier for Gazprom to obtain all the necessary certificates, but also remove the limit on the transportation of raw materials in this direction, bringing the monopoly’s export capabilities to 100%,” believes Pikin.
Earlier, a similar forecast was voiced by German political scientist Alexander Rahr, according to whom, a harsh winter will force the EU to forget about gas directives.