GAZELLE pipeline presentation makes Prague one of the most important Russian gas transit states to Central and Western Europe. The presidential election could make Czech Republic's energy policy more pro-European
In the heart of Europe the EU is losing a part of its energy independence. On Monday 1/14 Czech Republic presented GAZELLE pipeline: a project to carry Russian gas from Nordstream pipeline to Germany and France via MEGAS pipeline.
Nordstream has been realized by Russian national gas major Gazprom to deliver 55 bcd of Russian gas from Russia directly to Germany, in order to bypass several EU countries as Poland and the baltic Stares, and raise EU energy dependence on Moscow's supplies - which already cover the 40% of EU total energy need.
GAZELLE realization makes Czech Republic an important Russian gas' transit state to Central and Western Europe.
On the other hand, the GAZELLE endangers the realization of the EU Northern-Southern Corridor: a project planed by the European Commission to carry gas imported from Qatar, Norway and the USA by Poland's LNG terminal in Swinoujscie and the Croatia's one in Krk to Central Europe.
The Northern-Southern Corridor aim is to decrease the EU dependence on Russia's gas supplies, but the GAZELLE realization - which is a political plan by Russia - has made more difficult the realization of the European Commission's project.
As reported by Natural Gas Europe, GAZELLE presentation has been attended by the Secretary of State in Russian Energy Ministry, Anatoliy Borisovich, German representing of the Economy Ministry, Anne Ruth Herkes, and Czech PM Petr Necas.
Instead of the PM, the responsibility of Czech pro-Russia energy policy is due to conservative President Vaclav Klaus' Administration. Klaus characterized his foreign policy by anti-EU integration proclaims and a friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Czech energy policy could change after the second turn of Czech Presidential election. Former PM Milos Zeman - a Social Democratic Party's member who founded his own centre left wing Party of Civic Rights - sentenced that less changes could happen in Czech energy policy.
Nevertheless, the rival, the Minister of FA Karel Schwarzenberg - a former dissident who took part in first democratic governments after the Velvet Revolution - promised to put the EU in the center of Prague's political agenda.
In the first turn, Zeman obtained near the 24% of votes, mostly from small villages and the ancient part of the population. Schwarzenberg has been voted by the 23% of the population, mostly by the cultural circles, Czech youth, and her voters in the main towns.
Matteo Cazzulani
