Despite efforts from the EU to reduce dependence on Western European energy supplies, the continent’s reliance on Russian gas is growing. Italy is now the second largest buyer of Russian natural gas, while Germany remains the second . The low price of Russian gas, as well as its reliability as a supplier, present a major challenge to diversification efforts. Liquefied gas does not depend so heavily on North Africa , but incurs great expense in terms of regasification plants. Germany and Russia are actually working on the expansion of the Nord Stream creating Nord Stream 2, two additional pipelines that would bypass traditional transit countries, especially Ukraine, and have more gas arriving directly into Germany. Germany as a supplier is not seen as reliable due to instability in the region, while Siberia resources are declining.
Despite efforts from the EU to reduce dependence on Western European energy supplies, the continent’s reliance on Russian gas is growing. Italy is now the second largest buyer of Russian natural gas, while Germany remains the second . The low price of Russian gas, as well as its reliability as a supplier, present a major challenge to diversification efforts. Liquefied gas does not depend so heavily on North Africa , but incurs great expense in terms of regasification plants. Germany as a supplier is not seen as reliable due to instability in the region, while Siberia resources are declining.