Espanha Quadriplica Importação De Gás Russo

Quando os nuestros hermanos, resolvem arranjar confusão com o seu principal fornecedor de gás, com o qual têm pipelines dedicados, e as compras de gás americano começa a doer a sério na carteira, a quem é que a Espanha recorre?

Aos russos.

Eu estava bastante curioso, sobre o que estaria a acontecer à Espanha, quando resolveu aumentar drásticamente as tensões com a Argélia, ao declarar apoio a Marrocos. Isto em plena crise da NATO/UE/EUA com a Rússia. O sentido de oportunidade foi qualquer coisa.

 

Spain’s Sanchez visits Morocco, marking ‘new phase’ after Western Sahara reversal

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI hosted Spanish prime minister on Thursday in a landmark visit ending a year-long diplomatic crisis, after Madrid reversed decades of neutrality on the Western Sahara conflict in a U-turn that has angered Algeria.

... the move to drop Spain’s long-held neutrality on the Western Sahara has sparked a domestic backlash, with Spain’s parliament on Thursday condemning the move in a motion presented by a coalition partner of Sanchez...

... On March 18, Madrid announced a “new stage” in relations and said it now backed the North African kingdom’s plan for the territory: limited autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty...

[Spain’s Sanchez visits Morocco, marking ‘new phase’ after Western Sahara reversal]

Sanchez resolveu mexer num ninho de vespas e com as mãos. Argélia reagiu e, claro, temos agora os problemas energéticos.

Não podemos esquecer que as tensões tem crescido nos últimos tempos, com Marrocos a receber muito apoio dos americanos, principalmente armas.

US Military Sales to Morocco Doubled in 2020

The US Agency for International Trade (ITA) reported that sales of military equipment to Morocco more than doubled in 2020, growing from $4.01 billion (MAD 36 billion) to $8.5 billion (MAD 76 billion).

The source also pointed to the Royal Armed Forces’ (FAR) purchase of the PATRIOT Air Defense System, a medium-range surface-to-air missile defense system. Observers expect the acquisition to significantly improve the FAR’s missile defense capability.

The 2020 purchases of 25 new F-16 aircraft, 24 new Apache attack helicopters, as well as G550 reconnaissance aircraft, also factor into the figures. ITA also reported that several deals currently under discussion may push the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) portfolio over $10 billion (MAD 89 billion) in the following years...

[US Military Sales to Morocco Doubled in 2020]

Os americanos fizeram também o mesmo que Sanchez agora em 2022 (em Março), em plena crise russa, o que demonstra que há movimentações estratégicas em parte para contrariar os avanços russos do outro lado do Mediterrâneo.

US issues waiver for defence cooperation with Morocco

Move comes as US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman visits Rabat and expresses support for Morocco's plan for 'autonomy' in Western Sahara.

US defence funds will continue to support Morocco's participation in joint military exercises, after the administration of President Joe Biden moved to clear a hurdle to the relationship put in place by Congress last year following concerns over Western Sahara...

[US issues waiver for defence cooperation with Morocco]

Esta mexida, numa altura crítica destas, só podia dar asneira. Quero relembrar que a Argélia é um parceiro muito importante para a Rússia e devidamente armado por esta, tal como indiquei neste artigo que fiz em 2015 (Portugal, Argélia e ... Rússia) e já nessa altura tinha focado uma declaração interessante pelo então presidente Cavaco Silva.

Cavaco Silva: alternativa ao gás russo passa pela Península Ibérica

O Presidente da República defende que o abastecimento de gás ao centro e Leste da Europa deve passar a ser feito através da Península Ibérica. Cavaco Silva aponta esta solução como alternativa às actuais fontes de abastecimento provenientes da Rússia.

E nesse artigo também chamei a atenção à entrada da Gazprom na Argélia, ou seja, no principal fornecedor de gás da Peninsula Ibérica e agora aproveito para actualizar esta questão: 

Gazprom launches El Assel work in Algeria

Sonatrach and Gazprom have launched a plan for a new gas development in Algeria’s Berkine Basin. The Russian and Algerian companies have announced the start of development and construction. The El Assel project should reach first gas in 2025.

El Assel’s production will be exported via Sonatrach’s existing pipeline network.

Sonatrach has a 51% stake in El Assel, while Gazprom EP International has the remaining 49%.

 A importância da Argélia para a Rússia, acabou de aumentar. E já era importante, como país aliado no Mediterrâneo, sendo uma das jogadas que a Rússia está a fazer no Continente Africano e que tenho que falar um dia destes.

Instalada a confusão com o seu principal fornecedor, o recurso ao gás americano é uma opção, mas uma opção cara, com evidentes repercussões na economia espanhola. E tal como tenho falado por aqui, as opções russas em GNL não páram de crescer. E apesar das declarações de Sanchez em finais de Maio, já bem dentro da crise russa,

Spain paints itself as the answer to Europe’s Russian energy problem

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has said his country — and southern Europe more broadly — could provide an answer to the shortfall in gas supplies from Russia as the region looks to double down on sanctions against Moscow.

“Spain and, I would say, Southern Europe, will have a chance to provide an answer to this energy dependence of Russia fossil energy,” Sanchez told CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos late Monday.

Sanchez highlighted that Spain represents 37% of the European Union’s total regasification capacity — where liquefied natural gas is turned back into the end product of natural gas. He also said the Iberian Peninsula, occupied by Spain and Portugal, is home to around half of the EU’s LNG storage.

O que faz Sanchez, para resolver os SEUS problemas em casa sobre o gás?

Despite Restrictions, Russia Replaces Algeria as Spain’s Second Gas Supplier

According to the Enagas Statistical Bulletin, Spain’s energy company, Russia became the second-largest gas supplier to Spain in June, with a 24.4 % share, trailing only the United States, which possesses a 29.6% stake. Algeria is now Spain’s third-largest gas supplier, with a 21.6% share

This year, Moscow has quadrupled the amount of gas transported to Madrid amidst its invasion of Ukraine.

In June 2022, Russia exported to Spain 8,752 gigawatt-hours (GWh) compared to 2,163 GWh during the same period in 2021, reported the Ebagas in its statistical bulletin.

[Link]

É mau demais.

São estes os políticos que governam por esta Europa fora. E que tomam decisões de ignorar ultimatos russos.

O que virá aí para todos nós.