USA: Fatih Birol of the International Energy Agency issued a warning to the European Union in an interview with the Financial Times, urging Russia to speed up preparations for the upcoming heating season without any energy supplies.

Biol claims that the EU has "moved mountains" and avoided a full-blown energy crisis largely as a result of its efforts to secure alternative supplies and mild weather, which has allowed gas storage to be fully stocked. allowed to do.

The possibility that the members of the block will not be ready for the coming winter still remains.

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Russia tried to win with the Energy card, but failed. But to say that Europe has already won the energy war would be an exaggeration. Overconfidence is dangerous for the upcoming winter, and it is time to keep working for 2023."

Birol urged decision-makers to prioritize renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Progress in reducing Russia's revenue and promoting clean energy is commendable, but it is not a long-term fix. The pleasant weather has been helpful. Although we have got some time, which is important, there is still a lot to do.

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According to the expert, two factors pose significant threats to the energy security of the region. First, Russia could reduce the supply that is still flowing to the EU through a transit pipeline through Ukraine and Turkey, or about 20% of 2021 levels.

Second, the reopening of China after COVID-19 could intensify competition for supplies of liquefied natural gas (LNG), on which Europe has become increasingly dependent over the past year.

Both scenarios would make it harder to replenish supplies for the upcoming heating season, which could result in shortages, especially if the upcoming winter turns out to be much colder than the current one.

Before the conflict that broke out in Ukraine nearly a year ago, the EU depended on Russia for almost half of its energy needs.

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However, gas flows have been steadily declining over the past year as a result of technical challenges such as Western sanctions against Russia and the sabotage of Russia's Nord Stream pipelines in September, which rendered them inoperable.