w11.zetaboards.com Webutation
Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]

- NATIONS

Domestic News: | International News: P | Military News: | Financial News: | Other News: |
Add Reply
Resource Plans
Topic Started: Mar 2 2014, 12:44 AM (346 Views)
3_14159
Member Avatar

Peter Tempel
Permanent Representative of Germany to the European Union


Esteemed delegates,

with the increased tensions with Russia, our dependency on Russian natural gas imports are more and more critical. Several countries - Germany with 36% of the consumed natural gas being one of them - are strongly dependant on Russian gas exports, reducing our ability to enact economic sanctions and making us vulnerable to such in return.

Our possible actions appear two-fold: Reducing consumption and getting other trading partners.

The first would require a higher dependency on coal, nuclear power and renewable energies, and a lower energy consumption.
There is a significant problem with finding other sources for natural gas. Russia being the biggest producer in the market makes this difficult. There are several shorter-term and longer-term approaches possible. For the immediate future, a shortfall of Russian gas might be balanced by sharing some resources with the US. After that, a controlled increase in our own resource extraction might be possible, though with the limited reserves such is only a medium-term solution.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Leo
Member Avatar

Posted Image

Ivan Rogers
Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the European Union


Most distinguished delegates,

The United Kingdom expresses its support of Germany's statement. According to our sources, the diversification of natural gas and oil suppliers is already underway. Buying LNG from our overseas is a great alternative to the total dependence on Russian Gazprom.

The UK suggests our EU partners to adopt a comprehensive energy program that has to include complete change in our energy policy towards Russia (we already have an opened monopolist case against them), investment into the shale gas production and building new LNG hubs all across the EU to stimulate our North American partners to offer us their resources.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
MDRD
Member Avatar

Pieter de Gooijer
Permanent Representation of the Netherlands to the European Union

Fellow delegates,

It would be wise to start making plans for the eventuality that we are faced with a shut-off from Russian gas. For the short term we will be secure. Every EU nation has stocks for both oil and gas that will last for 90 days if all production/imports were to be halted. Secondly The Netherlands, having one of the biggest gas-reserves in the EU, will be able to take some of the slack.
It would be important to contact the Norwegian and North African governments to assertain how much loss they would be able to compensate. http://www.gate.nl/en/home.html A few years ago the Port of Rotterdam has opened a large LNG terminal which is capable of covering 2% of the entire EU demand. This is not the full 38,7% that the entire EU relies on Russia for gas, but combined with other measures, it is significant. We must also remember that 14,4% of those 38,7% is not actually used for consumption but is retraded elsewhere.

On a more optimistic note, we must remember that the Russian Federation relies almost entirely on the EU for its revenue. Putin himself claims 50% of all its revenue comes from their gas sales to us, their government on the other hand claims this to be closer to 60%. Whilse outside estimates go as high as 80%. Whichever it may be, where they to cut us off, they would go bankrupt. This threatened to happen after the globalfinancial crisis of 2008 hit, causing oil&gas prices to plummit.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Hashburgers
Member Avatar

Posted Image
Posted ImagePrawda Marek
Stały przedstawiciel przy Unii Europejskiej l Permanent Representative to the European Union

We believe this to be a very important step into energy independence. I recommend we invite representatives from various energy producing nations to speak before the European council. Even a strong energy producer such as ourselves, we are still dependent on importing energy to meet all of our needs.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Jos1311
Member Avatar
Head Admin
Posted Image
Posted Image Philippe Étienne
Représentant Permanent de la France auprès de l'Union européenne | Permanent Representative of France to the European Union

Esteemed delegates,

France, like the many other member states, proposes that we seek more diverse sources for natural gas and other energy products. While France supports the idea to look at alternative sources, it also would like to emphasize the role nuclear energy can play in this debate. Nuclear energy provides nearly three-quarters of the total energy in France, and as a result France has one of the most stable and most secure sources. While I do not want to reject or ignore the possibilities for renewable energy and alternative energy sources, and I stress that we should indeed be looking toward these matters as well, I feel that nuclear energy due to its public image is often ignored, while it often can be a highly attractive energy source.

That being said I concur that the information provided by Mr. de Gooijer is correct, and that Russia gets the far majority of its revenues from agreements with European nations. Many of the European member states are far too reliant on Russia for their natural gas, and oil. This has been the case for many years now, and too little has been done to undo this over-reliance.

I propose that we start looking towards the various energy projects in the region that we can stimulate, as well increase funding for various technologies that could be beneficial in the long run. At the same time a thorough review needs to take place on the consequences of extracting shale gas, as the reports on this are conflicting and as a result several governments, including the French government, have decided to not allow shale gas projects at this moment. With a thorough and in-depth report on the techniques used for shale gas extraction, highlighting the risks and consequences, as well as providing manners to reduce the risks, could be sufficient to lift most, if not all, of the current bans and open up large potential for a more energy self-sustaining EU.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Leo
Member Avatar

Posted Image

Ivan Rogers
Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the European Union


Honorable delegates,

The United Kingdom would like to emphasize that firrst of all we have to manage the problem of contries that rely on the Russian energy most of all. Those countries are mainly situated in the Eastern Europe and, thus, are most vulnerable to Russia's energy decisions.

To conclude our discussion, the UK made the following list of propositions:
- Focus on renewable energy sources
- Invest in energy conservation technologies
- Discuss the possibilities of nuclear energy projects
- Diversify our suppliers and use Port of Rotterdam
- Invest into shale gas

If we missed something, other delegates can correct us
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Jos1311
Member Avatar
Head Admin
Posted Image
Posted Image Philippe Étienne
Représentant Permanent de la France auprès de l'Union européenne | Permanent Representative of France to the European Union

Fellow Representatives,

After consultations with various economic advisers it has become apparent that the Russian government will most likely not resort to cutting of Europe from gas, as such would devastate the Russian economy as a whole, and result in the collapse of the Russian government. Even during the height of the Cold War gas deliveries were made to Europe and at times Russia provided some 70% of the European gas. Currently Europe relies on Russian gas for roughly 30% of its total usage, but local production levels in Norway, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, are expected to drop after 2020. This is a concerning development and it highlights the necessity to seek alternative sources. We thus not only have to reduce the dependence on Russian gas, but also ensure that we can carry the burden of European production that is declining.

Taking into account these measures we call upon the other representatives to be more involved in the debate, so that we can seek a solution to the issues at hand and of the near future.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Jos1311
Member Avatar
Head Admin
Posted Image
Posted Image Philippe Étienne
Représentant Permanent de la France auprès de l'Union européenne | Permanent Representative of France to the European Union

Fellow Representatives,

what is the status on these plans. Have any of the member states already contacted Washington to provide Europe with additional gas in case Moscow does decide to reduce its exports? I would also like to inquire what the cost of such an arrangement would be. At the same time is there any report on the progress several members states have made on finding alternative sources for gas, and/or new projects that we can turn to.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
3_14159
Member Avatar

Peter Tempel
Permanent Representative of Germany to the European Union


Ladies and Gentlemen,

we have had contacts with the United States Government, and have received promise of delivery of natural gas if necessary.

Ultimately, we believe our best course of action would be the following:

  • Focus on renewable energies
  • Invest in the inter-European energy grids
  • Diversify our suppliers.

We are critical of investment in nuclear energy due to the security concerns.

Additionally, the diversification of suppliers will be necessary. The possible additional suppliers we see would be Iran after the sanctions are lifted, and several African states.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Eryk
Member Avatar
СССР
Posted Image - Marek Prawda
Stały przedstawiciel RP przy Unii Europejskiej l Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland to the European Union

We find that resource diversification would be a positive development overall; the United States has recorded shale gas surpluses for several years now in an increasingly expanding industry. We are however inclined to look inward and within the European Union to provide long-term sustainability and boost production of our resources despite the fall in production of countries such as Norway or the United Kingdom.

Poland has substantial shale gas reserves of its own, as do various other countries within the European Union. Most of these resources cannot be recovered due to environmental regulations and hydraulic fracking bans in France, Germany, and other countries. Poland does not have such regulations and has been actively seeking investment in its shale gas industry. Perhaps therefore it would be more prudent to turn inward and invest in European sources of gas, thereby increasing economic growth in Europe as a whole while ensuring energy security.

Lastly, I would like to point out that the United States' government has limited room for maneuver on this issue. The shale gas industry is not owned by the government, and therefore the EU and other countries would have to purchase from individual companies and providers.
Edited by Eryk, Mar 22 2014, 05:40 AM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Round 4 · Next Topic »
Add Reply

Skin created by tiptopolive