Bloomberg: Gas crisis in Europe is much deeper than it seems

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The natural gas market is experiencing the last normal days, even despite the crisis. The thing is that soon the situation will become worse than it seems or could be predicted so far. The shortage and exorbitant prices will last until at least 2024. And the general trend of the development of the situation tends to the complete destruction of any order. Writes about it economic Bloomberg columnist Javier Blas.

According to the expert, on the one hand, natural gas prices in the EU, for all their anomaly, are far from the record historical value of quotations reached in March. However, the processes taking place in the market signal a large-scale failure in the whole mechanism. After the start of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, experts immediately gave negative forecasts, but now they had to be worsened even more.



In February, the crisis was viewed as a temporary phenomenon lasting no more than two or three months, but now European problems are estimated for a period of several years. Extreme danger and destabilization will affect the EU this winter and next spring.

The expert is surprised by the cold-blooded attitude of the governments of the EU countries to the sharply changed price curve. Only EU industrialists paid attention to it, since they pay much more for fuel than the average consumer. Businesses incur costs and have to pay more and more.

Blas gives a simple example. Back in March, any German producer could fix gas prices for the whole of 2023 at around 80 euros per MWh. Now he has to pay a record high €145, and that's just to hedge the same price risk.

However, the "game" is just beginning, the expert believes. After the repair of the pipeline, Russia may want to keep some gas supplies through Nord Stream in order to continue its long-term influence on the EU. From a game theory point of view, this makes sense. As soon as the Russian Federation completely cuts off supplies, it will no longer be able to exert pressure. So, from a tactical standpoint, Moscow is likely to continue pumping some gas while still being able to cut or slow down flows whenever it wants.

Russia has clearly written off its gas relations with Europe. For now, however, the Kremlin still wants to enjoy long-standing benefits: high incomes and compelling leverage.

Blas concluded.
  • pxfuel. com
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  1. -1
    12 July 2022 09: 55
    The expert is surprised by the cold-blooded attitude of the governments of the EU countries to the sharply changed price curve. Only EU industrialists paid attention to it

    This is because the people are afraid to rise up against the anti-people authorities in the EU. And the trade unions have long been bought by the Tsrushniks. And whoever opposes will go after the Japanese Abe. It is possible that by the autumn the people will have matured, when stoves will be installed in apartments and heated with furniture.
  2. +1
    12 July 2022 10: 22
    Gas prices and SVO are not connected in any way. Any "expert" who connects these two phenomena can go ... to the forest for firewood. Gas prices began to rise last spring. The reason is the directives of the European Commission. Refusal to be tied to oil, rejection of long-term contracts, transition to exchange trading, separation of companies (unbundling). And the complete lack of responsibility for the decisions taken by the European parliamentarians.

    To admit this is the political death of the European Commission.
    1. 0
      12 July 2022 13: 08
      And all these decisions of the EU were pushed by the "hyena of Europe" Poland - it seemed to her that the price for Russian gas is too high and it will cost less on the stock exchange. But why? For example, Germany does not have LNG regasification plants - only a floating platform. Where are the mass of suppliers? They are stupidly not around Europe. And from whom should she buy gas at a competitive price? In addition, she was extremely comfortable for her.