According to professor of the Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations of Alexander Likhotal, former adviser Mikhail Gorbachev and ex-president of the International Green Cross, Russia does not have any special monopoly opportunities and rights in the European energy market.
“Talk about Russia’s monopoly in the European energy market is greatly exaggerated, since their share does not exceed 40 percent, – Likhotal said in an interview with haqqin.az.“ Moreover, in the oil that Russia supplies, many impurities, which creates problems for its processing. In addition, the geographical position of Russia makes the oil production process much more complex and expensive than in the countries of the Persian Gulf. “
According to the former adviser to Gorbachev, due to Western sanctions, as well as competition from Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries, Russia is forced to sell its oil significantly lower than the cost.
“Even though there is virtually no Russian oil monopoly in the European market, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE and other countries began to increase oil exports to European and other markets,” said Lihotal.
According to him, about the same situation is observed with Russian gas in the EU market. Norway, Qatar and other suppliers of “blue fuel” methodically increase exports to the European Union, leaving less and less space for the once powerful Gazprom.
Alexander Likhotal recalled that no later than December of this year, a full embargo for importing gas from Russia to Europe will enter into force. In the meantime, in the framework of training, the three Baltic countries and Poland have completely stopped the import of energy from Russia, and by September this year, almost all European countries, except Hungary and Romania, will repeatedly reduce imports. These countries will take a little more time for the full embargo, and the EU went to meet Budapest and Bucharest.
“I do not think that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is an egoist, who decided, contrary to the general policy of the EU, – said the Likhotal.“ Rather, he is a populist. But the EU has already decided to increase the imports of Russian energy carriers. So What, gas from Russia will cost Orban much more expensive than gas from any other country. “