OREANDA-NEWS European consumers are limited in substituting Russian gas, as supplies from other countries are a drop in the ocean. This was announced to RIA Novosti by Sergey Kolobanov, Deputy Head of the Economics of the Fuel and Energy Sectors Department of the Central Strategic Research Center.

“In terms of replacing gas from Russia, options are being considered to increase pipeline supplies from Norway, Algeria and Azerbaijan. But this is a drop in the ocean - this year, in total, from these countries, taking into account restrictions in the resource base and infrastructure, no more than seven to eight billion cubic meters can be obtained additionally, ”Kolobanov noted.

According to him, Europe wants to quickly abandon gas from Russia. However, most of the measures this year are related to a decrease in consumption levels, and not to the diversification of supplies. At the same time, an increase in supplies to Europe from others is possible, but only at a small level, up to a maximum of 20 billion cubic meters. This is due to the small amount of free LNG volumes on the world market.

He added that now Europe can save only by increasing the production of renewable sources and nuclear power plants, as well as by saving end-users.

On May 8, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that Europe cannot now refuse Russian gas. These sanctions will end up hurting the EU more than Russia, he said. He added that Greece plans to replace Russian pipeline gas with liquefied natural gas.