Baku, Azerbaijan, March 14
By Aygun Badalova -Trend:
Russia's South Stream gas pipeline project, whose status can be described as "undesirable but unavoidable" for the EU, now seems to face more difficulties. The EU has decided to postpone talks with Russia over the legal status of the project amid growing political tension between Russia and Europe over Ukraine.
Europe, being highly dependent on energy supplies from Russia, reluctantly accepts the concept of the project, because it understands that the South Stream will only increase its energy dependence on Russia. That is the reason why the EU has not included South Stream in the list of its priority projects. By the same reason the EU does not secure exemption from Third Energy Package, which Russia is keen to get. All these facts make the implementation of the South Stream more difficult. The tensions between the EU and Russia over Ukraine have become one more barrier, which could potentially move the EU away from this project.
"I won't accelerate talks about pipelines such as South Stream for the time being -- they will be delayed," EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger was quoted as saying, International Oil Daily reported.
At the same time Commission's spokesperson clarified Trend that Commissioner Oettinger simply pointed out that negotiations between the EU and Russia on political level are not speeding up, however adding that technical discussions of the working group on South Stream will continue.
The stagnation in negotiation process over the South Stream may positively impact on another project, which is mostly considered as a competitor to Russia's project - the Southern Gas Corridor. The importance of this Caspian gas transportation project is probably going to increase in the light of these recent events.
In particular, it may be expected that the EU will intensify its efforts towards the implementation of the projects within the Southern Gas Corridor, including the attraction of the new players to the project, such as Turkmenistan.
"The building of the Southern Gas Corridor will continue as foreseen as it remains a priority of the EU in order to diversify supply sources," European Commission's spokesperson told Trend.
This can be really good and appropriate time for the EU to speed up its negotiations with Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan over the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline project, the implementation of which will provide the EU with additional alternative gas supply sources. This project has lots of political aspects, however the EU can potentially encourage Turkmenistan to take concrete decisions on Trans-Caspian pipeline.
It should not be denied that Europe needs Russian gas and will need it for a long time. However the practice has already proved the risks of being dependent on only one source.
And it is time for Europe to move forward towards its aim of energy diversification in order to guard against such risks.