Winter 2022

31 Aug 2022:  Kwasi Kwarteng continuing efforts to secure energy for UK this winter 2022 / 23.  Gas winter 2022  that:

"North Sea gas production up 26% this year - Extra 1bcm of gas secured from Norway - Approval to open Rough gas storage - 8.6GW of renewables being built now - Coal plants remaining online - 137 LNG cargoes received this year, up 48% on last year"

Mean while, Boris Johnson was pleased that the world's largest windfarm Hornsea 2 off the Yorkshire Coast is now open.

The announcement comes as China imports LNG from Russia. Also, when looking at other reports , it looks as though China sells some of it's "spare" LNG back to Europe.

On 30th June 2022, oilprice.com reported that for the very first time, Europe imported more USA liquid natural gas (LNG) than Russian piped natural gas. 

On 15th June 2022, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) took over their energy market.  AEMO will now set the prices that will be allowed to be charged.  AEMO tried capping prices , but some generators witheld energy as the capped price did not cover their costs.  The there was therefore a threat of energy blackouts. Reuters news agency reportss that Australia has been hit by soaring gas prices .  

Thursday 16 June 2022:  Norway's Equinor Company has agreed to supply UK's Centrica energy company with an extra 1 billion cubic meters of gas .  MP for Spelthorne Kwasi Kwarteng is the Secretary of State for business and energy .  On Twitter he announced a deal to supply the UK with crucial gas supplies over winter 22 to 25.  For this Winter 2022 it reduces the risk of rolling power outages and worsening supply chain issues including food supplies.  

The Equinor / Centrica deal aannounced by Secretary of State Kwarteng appears to have alleviated some pressure to authorise fracking which may have arisen in the event of possible winter shortages.  

Previously (2 June 2022)

Global shortages of energy are expected to impact UK at the end of this year, according to Cityam news. UK gets significant energy from the EU (which gets it from Russia). 

Also, as the BBC reports, The EU has sanctioned Russian Gas (ie kind of sanctioned itself!).  It looks as though Russia helps to funds it's war in Ukraine by selling energy to the EU.  The EU relies on Russian energy so tries to cut back, and at the same time sends support to Ukraine to fight Russia .  Sounds all messed up!   When we say "the EU" - we are talking about the remotely elected EU officials who make the decisions (eg Ursula von der layen)

Netherland and Denmark will get no Russian energy at all because they refuse to pay Gazprom in Russian Rubles. 

Saudi based Arab News reports that there will be an energy supply crisis as investment oil production is cut by 30million barrels a day as we approach that day we keep seeing - 2030 (the great reset).  Spare capacity will disappear. 

The Economic Times of India reports that India and Sri lanka  are taking consignments of Russian Oil, whilst Bangladesh is seeking advice about taking Russian Oil. 

According to ITV contingency measures could mean power being turned off at peak times on weekdays 7-10am and 4-9pm .

Food shortages

Global food crisis is severe and will last for months said world bank president David Malpass in a report dated 3 June 2022. There are already food shortages in some parts of the world eg Sri Lanka and Peru.  These will spread globally.  Middle income Europeans and Americans will survive it but there will be genuine hunger in many parts of the world. 

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