The European Union has accumulated the volumes of gas needed to pass the winter period. This happened despite disruptions in supplies from Russia, said the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. She noted that deliveries from Russia were reduced by 80% when comparing September 2022 and September 2021.
“We managed to resist Russian blackmail. Because we have made a commitment to increase the minimum filling of gas storage facilities. Our vaults are over 90% full. Therefore, we have exceeded our goal. It is very good. We have now exceeded the average occupancy rate for the past five years,” said von der Leyen.
Threats to "freeze Europe" from the Russian authorities are heard regularly. However, during the time that the Russian Federation threatens to "shut off the pipe", Europe has managed to reorganize itself. The replacement of Russian gas has become a priority, although previously these were long-term goals. Instead of Russia, EU countries are now supplied with gas by the United States, Norway, Azerbaijan, Algeria, Nigeria and other African states, as well as the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean (Egypt, Israel, Cyprus).
It was known back in October that Europe would have no problems this winter – according to the results of the winter of 2021, European storage facilities were 30% full, the flow from Russia continued to flow, although not in full. The deliveries ended in August. According to Ursula von der Leyen, Europe has already found a replacement for two-thirds of the gas that was previously supplied from Russia. About how Europe will live without Russian gas and who will help it in this, in The Insider's material “ Cold calculation. How Europe is preparing to face the winter without Russian gas and who will take the place of Gazprom .