Doukas (NTUA professor): The problems that Greece has with natural gas – How it should be shielded
An answer on two levels, both Greek and Greek, must be given to energy issues in order to cover the costs for the citizens, after the intensity of the crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
This is stated in iefimerida.gr by Haris Doukas, Associate Professor of Energy and Environmental Policy at the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering of NTUA.
“Europe has given close to 300 billion euros in 2021 for energy issues and estimates say that in 2022 the cost may reach 1 trillion euros, that is, it has tripled. We estimate that the same will happen in Greece. “So, the Greek government will have to make new changes and subsidies for the coming months, while it has already given close to 2 billion since September, when the crisis began until today.”explains Mr. Doukas, noting at the same time that in the next period the increases in energy prices will remain high and there may be a bigger crisis mainly in the electricity bill, as the war will create a price explosion in gas.
In this context “Europe’s new measures against Russia, the common sanctions, which for example the swift in the banks, will make even more difficult any transaction related to Russian gas and will exacerbate the problem”comments.
What is the “bet” for next winter
The actions of the government, for the next difficult two months, should ensure the security of supply which is currently in full swing. “The depots should be full of liquefied gas, but it should be possible for the hydroelectric stations as well as those that are natural to date for natural gas to change so that other forms can be used, such as lignite.”says the Associate Professor at NTUA.
At the same time, he emphasizes that “the most important thing is the increase of renewable energy sources, through the modernization of our networks both in the home environment and in companies. We need to reduce our energy loads. The “bet” is next winter because good or bad in Greece we have two more months left and after that the energy load will fall. “But in September we will have to find more armored personnel carriers.”
The need to release Russian gas is imperative
Mr Doukas comments that the debate at European level is currently on two levels. At the immediate level, so that a fund can be set up quickly to cover the terrible costs of electricity and the medium, long-term, which has to do with the release of Russian gas.
“About 30% of Russia’s total budget comes from oil and gas. By buying Russian gas at high prices, we are currently financing the war. “So it is very crucial to stop our great dependence in the coming years, as gas imports from Russia come to 40% for Europe and the percentage is similar for Greece.”
America wins by transporting liquefied natural gas to Europe
Finally, the US should benefit from the whole situation as the “shift” to the liquefied natural gas that is being transported will intensify. Mr. Doukas explains: “From the end of 2021 until today, there is a new transatlantic energy cooperation. A floating deck of ships has been formed in the Atlantic that transports liquefied natural gas with very large ships from America to Europe and Greece. In Greece, for the first two months of 2022, the first source was natural gas that started from Russia with pipelines and liquefied natural gas from America and to a lesser extent from Algeria, Qatar. “So there has been a very big change in the gas markets with liquefied natural gas gaining ground and the Americans gaining a very significant share of the European market.”