MenuLast week President Joe Biden announced a complete ban on Russian oil and gas imports – the latest in a series of debilitating sanctions meant to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin for his crimes against Ukraine. The declaration followed an already steady stream of US and Western energy companies who were departing the Russian marketplace on their
Category Archives: Europe
The US Bans Russian Energy Imports – Symbolically
As Russia’s war in Ukraine intensifies, the Biden administration banned Russian oil and natural gas purchases. This move represents a departure from initial Western sanctions against the Kremlin, designed specifically to avoid interference in Russian energy flows – particularly to import-dependent Europe. Read the full article here…
As Russia Seizes Europe’s Largest Nuclear Power Plant, Ukraine Battles Wartime Energy Challenges
Russian forces in Ukraine seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station Friday, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. Brazen tank and artillery attacks on the Ukrainian forces defending the plant resulted in a hazardous fire on some of the facility’s auxiliary buildings. Read the full article…
EU’s Rebranding Of Natural Gas And Nuclear Power As ‘Green Investments’ Could Not Come At A Better Time
Tensions between Russia and the West over a possible invasion of Ukraine have reached their zenith. If a shooting war between the two ex-Soviet states does erupt, it will likely happen within the next 72 hours, or not at all (this does not preclude the possibility of limited border incursions by Russian troops or perhaps the
Political Risks and Hobbesian Warfare Complicate Libyan Gas Supply for Europe
Since 2011, Libya has been suffering from a Hobbesian state of the war of all against all. Chaos, violence, and warfare massively impaired the north African energy giant’s oil and gas supplies. Read the full article…
Can Qatar Come to Europe’s Energy Rescue?
As the risk of a conflict between Ukraine and Russia grows – one that would undoubtedly imperil European energy security – the Emir of Qatar is invited to visit President Biden at the White House at the end of this month to discuss opportunities for the country to supply liquified natural gas (LNG) to Europe. Read the
Western Reluctance on Nord Stream II Gas Pipeline, SWIFT Emboldens Russia
As the possibility of a Russian invasion of Ukraine grows ever more likely, Berlin’s hesitancy to impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 and other pressure points, such as the SWIFT bank transfer system, erodes deterrence and may invite Russian aggression. Read the full article…
With New German Gigafactory, Tesla Looks To Build On Big Lead In Surging European EV Sales
The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is occurring apace; sales in Europe are accelerating thanks to early adopter enthusiasm and government subsidies – given the shift in government and EU-wide cleaner energy initiatives. According to Schmidt Automotive, battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales will reach a market share of 60% in Western Europe by 2030, or 8.4 million
Germany And France Clash Over EU’s New “Green” Classifications for Nuclear Energy and Natural Gas
A new European Union (EU) proposal to treat new nuclear power and natural gas investments as “green” is sparking controversy over the taxonomy of sustainable energy, provoking a clash between Paris and Berlin. On Sunday, the German government slammed the European Commission’s attempt to classify nuclear investments as climate-friendly, despite their reliability and emissions-free power generation. Read
Putin’s one-two punch European strategy to defeat America
On Jan. 9, the Biden administration will begin negotiations in Geneva over the “Putin Ultimatum,” two sets of demands presented to the U.S. and NATO. If accepted, they would destroy 30 years of post-Cold War European security policy while opening the path to Russian Empire 3.0 — the latest imperial iteration after the Romanoffs and the Soviets. Read the