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Europe needs to improve energy security system: European energy commissioner

Oil&Gas Materials 21 July 2009 15:53 (UTC +04:00)
Europe needs to strengthen security of its energy supplies, the EU Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs believes. "We need to reinforce our security of gas supply with market based mechanisms, while considering national specificities and without losing the strengths offered by the European dimension," Piebalgs said to his official Web site.
Europe needs to improve energy security system: European energy commissioner

Azerbaijan, Baku, July 21 / Trend , A.Badalov/

Europe needs to strengthen security of its energy supplies, the EU Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs believes. "We need to reinforce our security of gas supply with market based mechanisms, while considering national specificities and without losing the strengths offered by the European dimension," Piebalgs said to his official Web site.

"The gas crisis of last January has made clear that we need to reinforce the security angle of our energy policy and we have to do it quickly," he said.

The interruption of the supply of 20% of the consumption, during two whole weeks, showed the weaknesses, but also the strengths of our gas supply system," Piebalgs said.

Last week the European Commission proposed new rules to ensure the EU energy security in the event of another Russian-Ukrainian gas crisis, which, according to Piebalgs, could be repeated in August. Protection measures include providing a reverse movement throughout the gas transmission system, increasing reserves in storage and constructing new LNG terminals, Kommersant writes. Along with the special plan of preventive action for each country, the general requirements have been defined, including guaranteeing in the event of halting supply, providing consumers with gas for 60 days during periods of high demand in a cold season, assessing risks and measures to remove those risks.

New regulation will improve internal solidarity mechanisms and equip Member States to face serious gas supply crisis, Piebalgs said.

"Contrary to oil, gas is a replaceable fuel, so there is no need for strategic stocks, as it is the case of oil. Instead, it is more appropriate to look for market rules that allow each Member State to look for the most effective ways to face the interruption of supply from their main infrastructure," Piebalgs said. "I think that regulations adopted, once approved by the Council at the Parliament, will reinforce the security of supply of European citizens."

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