Nato chief flags European energy security concerns

The crisis in Ukraine has thrown into sharp focus the need for Europe to diversify its energy supplies, according to the head of Nato.

Speaking to the BBC, Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said European countries need to scale back their reliance on Russia for energy, notably gas, echoing comments made last week by the EU's high representative for foreign affairs Josep Borrell.

"We are concerned about the energy situation in Europe because it demonstrates the vulnerability of being too dependent on one supplier of natural gas," Stoltenberg said. "That's the reason why Nato allies agree that we need to work and focus on diversification of supplies."

Stoltenberg said recent comments from the IEA that Russia "has manipulated the European gas market by holding back supplies" highlight "the importance of developing alternative sources for energy supplies to Europe".

But with Russian state-controlled Gazprom accounting for around one third of the EU's gas supply, replacing Russian pipeline gas exports in Europe is almost impossible in the short term and the options to gradually slow imports may be limited. US President Joe Biden will today raise global LNG supply security with Qatar's emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani during a meeting at the White House, the latest in a string of US moves to ask key LNG producers if they could increase production and exports to fill any supply shortfall in Europe in the event of disruption to Russian supply. But replacing the 360mn m³/d supplied by Russia to Europe in 2021 would require about 8.4mn t/month of LNG — more than Japan imports.

Stoltenberg said securing additional LNG supply from key producers such as Qatar and the US may help, but acknowledged this is a short-term fix.

"In the longer term, this is about reducing the dependence on these types of energy sources, to develop new and also more environmentally friendly domestic energy sources. But that will take some more time," he said.

Russia has deployed over 100,000 troops near Ukraine's border and is pressing for assurances about Nato expansion. Although Moscow has repeatedly denied that it is planning a military incursion, UK foreign secretary Liz Truss said yesterday there is "a real threat" that Russia will invade.

By James Keates