DISINFO: The concept of “energy security” has turned into an anti-Russian project
SUMMARY
Poland and the United States have put considerable effort into promoting the idea that the Nord Stream 2 challenges EU security. For this purpose, the concept of “energy security” was established. Initially, this concept implied diversification of energy sources, but gradually, it has turned into a clear anti-Russian project. There has been a return to a “Cold War” approach, which assumed that it is not necessary to buy anything from Russia at all. This approach does not imply a diversification of energy sources (purchase of oil and gas from Russia and other suppliers), but on the contrary – to break contacts with Russia and search for other suppliers of energy sources.
RESPONSE
This case is part of the Kremlin's disinformation campaign about European energy policy and the US fight with the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. The European Energy Security Strategy is not aimed against Russia or any other supplier of energy sources. Thus, it does not include the complete rupture of energy cooperation with the Russian Federation. The EU Energy Security Strategy was released in May 2014 – it aims to ensure a stable and abundant supply of energy for European citizens and the economy. Regarding its long-term measures, it proposes actions based on eight key pillars, like protecting strategic infrastructure, moderating energy demand, building a well-functioning and fully integrated internal market, increasing energy production in the European Union, diversifying external supplies and related infrastructure and further developing energy technologies. In other words, the EU Energy Security Strategy is a comprehensive document, which suggests numerous changes to the EU's energy policy, including the diversification of energy sources. In the case of Poland, in 2015, it completed the construction of the LNG Terminal in Świnoujście, which enabled the import of the LNG from the United States and Qatar. The functioning of this LNG terminal has resulted in a visible reduction of the share of the Russian gas in total Polish consumption - 67% in 2018 and 58% - throughout the first three quarters of 2019. Currently, the regasification capacity of the LNG Terminal in Świnoujście is being expanded from 5 to 7.5 billion cubic meters per year. In addition, Poland is involved in the launch of the Baltic Pipe Project, which will enable access to Norway’s gas fields. In this way, the Russian Gazprom loses its monopoly in Poland, as it will have to compete with alternative gas suppliers. See more cases concerning European energy issues including Europe catastrophically lacks gas; the US wants to completely capture the European gas market and the US would like to resell Russian gas to Europe.