International Energy Agency: The winter of 2023 will be more difficult for Europe

The Executive Director of the International Energy Agency Fatih Birol expected European countries to experience a difficult winter in 2023, in the light of the absence or shortage of natural gas supplies from Russia.

“The risks for Europe in the current winter are less, as European gas storage facilities are 90 percent full, and if nothing unexpected happens and this winter is not cold and long, Europe will pass it. However, from February to March 2023, gas in storage facilities will decrease to 30 percent, and it will be very difficult to increase the storage to 80 or 90 percent by next winter.

Birol added, “The winter of next year will be difficult due to the shortage or complete absence of Russian gas. Europe is still receiving Russian gas this year and it is likely that it will not be available in the future.”

Birol did not rule out a decrease in Liquidated Natural Gas LNG production in the year 2023 as China continues to buy its main quantities. He said: “China’s imports of LNG declined this year, but it will increase in the future, and China will buy the bulk of LNG and so, there will be little left for Europe.” “.

The International Energy Agency has previously warned that Europe may face a deficit of 30 billion cubic meters of gas in the year 2023, in light of Russia’s reduction in the quantities of gas exported to European countries in response to the sanctions imposed by these countries on Moscow in the wake of its special military operation to protect Donbass.