Welcome to the tenth edition of the EUCERS newsletter – please find in this month’s edition:
Russian Energy Politics: From Europe to Asia
The financial and economic crisis of 2008 and 2009 emphasised the extent to which the Russian economy is dependent on oil and gas export revenues. This has significant consequences as the global economic downturn limits Russia’s room for manoeuvre both internally and externally. Indeed, the uncertainty on the European gas market, along with the growth of a global LNG market and the production of unconventional gas reserves in North America, is forcing Russia to rethink its energy strategy. In his speech presented at the last EUCERS event, Dr Louis Skyner, Commercial Manager at Statoil ASA in Russia, discusses the implications for Russia’s Gazprom energy strategy, as well as the potential for a reform in the Russian gas industry and market.
The Pros and Cons of Shale Gas in Europe: A Review of Energy Security in 2011
In the past five years, the EU gas market has been transformed beyond belief. An important reason for these changes is the discovery of shale gas. It has been known for decades that gas exists in shale rocks, but it was only until recently that advances in the technology of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling allowed its extraction. With an increase in energy prices, shale gas has become viable to obtain. Significant shale reserves have been discovered in Australia and China; in Europe, the biggest reserves are believed to be in Poland, Ukraine and France, and a significant source has also been discovered in the UK. Moses Ekpolomo, a EUCERS research associate and PhD student at KCL, analyses the benefits and obstacles for shale gas to become a major energy source in Europe.
EUCERS ACTIVITIES
On 18 January 2012 the European Centre for Energy and Resource Security (EUCERS) together with the EU Commission Representation in the UK and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in London welcomed tot he 2nd EUcers Energy Roundtable on „EU Energy Policy: Engaging with Partners beyond our Borders“. Dr Michael Köhler, Head of Cabinet Head of Cabinet of Commissioner Günther H. Oettinger at the European Commission and Dr Louis Skyner, Commercial Manager at Statoil ASA in Russia held the introductory statements before we embarked on adiscussion, introduced by Iulian Chifu, Associate Professor at the Bucharest National School of Political and Administrative Studies and Advisor to the Romanian President on Strategic Affairs, Security and Foreign Policy. After the discussion Louis Skyner and Iulian Chifu also participated in a recording for the departmental podcast, which can be found here: (http://warstudies.podomatic.com/).
EUCERS ON THE ROAD
EUCERS ANNOUNCEMENTS
King’s College London Summer School on Global Energy Politics – Applications now open!
