The EU should stop considering opportunities to cut its dependence on Russian gas. The authorities of the EU countries should focus instead on making those deliveries safer, including options to bypass Ukraine, Christophe de Margerie, the head of French oil company Total told Reuters in an interview.
De Margerie cited as an example the Nord Stream pipeline built under the Baltic Sea. "(Nord Stream) was built to avoid passing through Ukraine, not to avoid Russian gas," he said. The head of Total also noted that any kind of intentional decrease of imports from Russia would usher in costlier shipments from other nations. Consumers would hardly like this outcome.
According to De Margerie, it is obvious that Europe could face a repeat of a big gas supply crisis this winter. He said there are a variety of options, including the once proposed by Russia that could help to avoid such a problem.
At the same time, Total CEO went for a European Commission proposal to entitle the EU member states to negotiate gas contracts on their behalf. "Today Russian gas prices are in line with international market prices. They've even cut their prices to keep customers."
De Margerie highlighted that tensions between the West and Russia push Moscow closer to China citing a deal to supply Beijing with gas. Thus, he warned the EU against the attempts to isolate Russia, “which has saved us on numerous occasions."
The heads of other oil giants including BP and Royal Dutch Shell also repeatedly spoke up for ling-term relationships with Russia, despite sanctions imposed by the West.
Earlier, EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger urged EU and Ukraine to fill their gas storage facilities to avoid an energy collapse next winter. Oettinger's spokeswoman Sabine Berger said currently there are no interruptions in Russian gas transit to Europe through Ukraine. However, she failed to comment on the question whether Ukraine takes the gas intended for further transit to Europe from its underground storage facilities.
On June 16, Gazprom switched to requiring advance payment from Ukraine on the back of its huge debts. In its turn, Kiev refused to pay saying the price was unfair.