"Gas consumption in the EU countries in 2023 will fall more than its imports from Russia, writes the Financial Times, citing an internal assessment of the European Commission. Gas demand in the EU will decrease this year, according to EC expectations, by 60 billion cubic meters compared to the average over the past five years, with 60% of the reduction in demand coming from five countries: Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal."
As I have repeatedly said before, several countries in the EU have long been "sold" by their governments "into the gas slavery" of Russia. In this list, these are the first three positions, right in the order in which I always indicated them
These are the three largest economies in Europe, and the idea was very profitable - to plant the industry of three European locomotives on their own gas. And this gave 2 unique advantages:
- Constant deliveries to the EU, and constant replenishment of the budget of the Russian Federation with a stable Euro (e.g. German mark, French franc, Italian lira)
- Possibility to manipulate EU politicians, if necessary. And this has happened more than once. Someone does not do what the Kremlin wants - and we have an accident on the pipeline, or equipment replacement, or just a pumping stop ... And, for example, the German economy - freezes ... And this is mass discontent among the population, this is a loss of ratings and other things, not to mention already about real interruptions in the country's economy.
PS "Power of Siberia-2". All. China finally refused its further financing. And gave preference to more expensive gas, but from an adequate supplier.
The most interesting thing is that all the money that China has previously invested in the project is ... CREDITS, which Russia will be obliged to return. The calculation was the return of loans through the sale of gas through the same gas pipeline. The "fraternal people of China" once again "helped" Russia