Gas

The Czech Republic is not saving enough natural gas. Last year was above average in terms of gas consumption. Moreover, the country is slowly getting into a situation where it is drawing more from its reserves and storing less. How will the Czech Republic cope with the heating season? Our researcher Michal Hrubý commented on the topic of natural gas for Czech Radio.

The International Energy Agency said in its quarterly report that Europe will face unprecedented risks regarding Russian supplies and may be forced to compete with Asia for liquefied natural gas. Our research fellow Michal Hrubý discussed the European situation, including the Czech situation in this global context, with Martina Mašková.

In their article on the current European energy policy, iRozhlas.cz refers to the study Gas in Numbers - European solidarity with gas: where does the Czech Republic stand?, which was prepared for EUROPEUM by our researcher Michal Hrubý. Michal Hrubý also commented in more detail for iRozhlas on the necessity of building energy independence from Russia, reducing annual consumption and Czech interests.

Russia's Nord Stream 1 pipeline has been operating at only 20 % capacity since Wednesday. According to Bloomberg, Russia will not restore supplies to full capacity as long as anti-Russian sanctions remain in place. Our researcher Michal Hrubý commented for E15.cz that with sufficient gas supplies and appropriate savings, we will definitely get through this winter.

How do we manage energy in the Czech Republic? What will be the energy situation in the future and how can we save? Our Research Fellow Michal Hrubý commented on this for the news server Novinky.cz.

Michal Hrubý, our Research Fellow, commented on the topic of the Czech EU Presidency in an article for the news server E15 in which he addresses the issue of gas from Russia. The article also compares the situation with 2009, when the Czech Republic held the EU Council Presidency for the first time.

Our Senior Research Fellow Kateřina Davidová commented for iDnes.cz on the EU taxonomy proposal that was rejected last week by two key committees of the European Parliament. They are concerned that nuclear energy and natural gas should be among the sustainable resources.

Jakub Ferenčík wrote a blog on the current topic: The Sixth Sanctions Package & the Visegrad Group’s Reliance on Putin’s Gas. Russia's aggression in Ukraine has necessitated another package of sanctions, this time in the energy sector. Due to the lack of alternatives for gas supplies, the Visegrad Four countries had a problem with the implementation of the latest sanctions package. In the end, the EU found a consensus and introduced exemptions for the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.

The newly announced possibility of gas extraction in the North Sea will not solve the current situation. "In the medium and long term, it is only one of many solutions to diversify resources. But the question is whether it will have a significant impact on the European gas market and European independence." However, raw material extraction projects in the EU must be supported.

A Policy Brief on the future of natural gas in the European Union was produced during a study visit to the Brussels office of Think Visegrad. The author of the brief, Agata Łoskot-Strachota, focuses on the current market crisis, which has raised questions about the role of gas in the decarbonisation process, as well as the cost and security of supply, and highlights the need for a common gas strategy that is in line with the objectives of the Green Deal, but also responds to short-term challenges.