Russia in the European energy sector

<a href="/facts/Russian_Federation/jfkCwyxn">Russia</a> supplies a significant volume of <a href="/facts/Fossil_fuels/BPgxAqB7">fossil fuels</a> to other European countries. In 2021, it was the largest exporter of <a href="/facts/Petroleum/IQV0bHVd">oil</a> and <a href="/facts/Natural_gas/9MYQ7NAP">natural gas</a> to the <a href="/facts/European_Union/6GYcR8qM">European Union</a>, (90%) and 40% of gas consumed in the EU came from Russia.
The Russian state-owned company <a href="/facts/Gazprom/gRSbevVh">Gazprom</a> exports natural gas to Europe. It also controls many <a href="/facts/List_of_Gazprom%2527s_subsidiaries/UYQzI2IX">subsidiaries</a>, including various infrastructure assets. According to a study published by the <a href="/facts/Research_Centre_for_East_European_Studies/n0QV4AxL">Research Centre for East European Studies</a>, the liberalization of the EU gas market drove Gazprom's expansion in Europe by increasing its share in the European <a href="/facts/Downstream_(petroleum_industry)/xoRuE9xG">downstream</a> market. It established sale subsidiaries in many of its export markets, and also invested in access to industrial and power generation sectors in Western and Central Europe. In addition, Gazprom established joint ventures to build natural gas pipelines and storage depots in a number of European countries.
The dependency on Russian fossil fuels poses <a href="/facts/Energy_security/7KuT5rKt">energy security</a> risks for Europe. In a number of disputes Russia used pipeline shutdowns, which motivated the European Union to diversify its energy sources. The rapid expansion of <a href="/facts/Renewables/6Bu6IrpF">renewables</a> in the European energy market would allow for less imports. As a reaction, Russia is expanding its export abilities towards China, as it has <a href="/facts/Power_of_Siberia/wgLYDKh2">only one pipeline</a>. The <a href="/facts/2022_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine/TTeQCgSl">2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine</a> caused the <a href="/facts/2022_Russia%25E2%2580%2593European_Union_gas_dispute/Dp1LJB5e">Russia–European Union gas dispute</a>. The <a href="/facts/European_Commission/Cc5JgbEI">European Commission</a> and <a href="/facts/International_Energy_Agency/HErEraSy">International Energy Agency</a> presented joint plans to reduce reliance on Russian energy, reduce Russian gas imports by two thirds within a year, and completely by 2030. In May 2022, the European Union published plans to end its reliance on Russian oil, natural gas and coal by 2027. In the wake of <a href="/facts/Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine/kE7cHvoQ">Russian invasion of Ukraine</a>, Russia's role in the EU energy market has collapsed. Due to EU sanctions, Russia's weaponization of gas supplies, and the <a href="/facts/2022_Nord_Stream_pipeline_sabotage/TcdpcXAc">sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines</a>, Russia delivered only around 60 BCM of gas to the EU in 2022. By contrast, in 2021, the EU imported 155 BCM of Russian gas, which accounted for about 45% of its total gas imports. If the pipeline flows remain at current levels, it is likely that Russia will supply around 25 BCM of piped gas to the EU over the course of 2023.

Russia in the European energy sector open-in-new

Russia in the European energy sector