According to the 2006 records of the European Council on Foreign Relations, the following countries are totally dependent on Russia for their gas supplies:  Latvia, Slovakia, Finland, and Estonia. The following countries are more than 50 percent dependent on the same gas supply: Bulgaria, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Greece, Austria, and Hungary. With Europe under sub-zero temperatures right now, the cutting off of gas supply means great risks for children and the elderly.

Jose Manuel Barroso, European Commission President, has accused both Russia and Ukraine for ‘hostaging’ the gas supply. The EU completely relies on Russia for approximately 25 percent of its gas needs. 80 percent of this passes through the channels of Ukraine. Russia and Ukraine have been on a bitter row over this gas supply, both casting blames on each other.

According to one media report, “Russia’s gas company Gazprom has accused Ukraine of shutting off the final pipeline carrying gas to Europe, but Ukraine’s Naftogaz said that would be impossible, since the taps are in Russia.” There is also a raging issue about huge unpaid dues to Russia. The biting European cold is the least opportune time for this business dispute to explode. This is a clear example of how fossil fuels, and their limited ownership, can be used for powerplay. This incident is also a loud wake up call to Europe for being dependent on gas.

If renewable energy resources were established in each country and having their own respective generation, supply, and distribution, Russian gas will not hold much sway, or a business dispute between two countries will not leave an entire continent freezing in extreme winter cold.

Image

Via CNN