JRL NEWSWATCH: “Lukashenko threatens to cut gas supplies to Yamal-Europe gas pipeline if EU imposes new sanctions, promises to send refugees dry firewood” – bne Intellinews

November 11, 2021 JRL Russia List Belarus, Europe, EU, JRL NewsBlog, Oil, Gas, Energy, Sanctions

Alyaksandr Lukeshenko file photo, adapted from image at usembassy.gov

“… Lukashenko has threatened to cut off [Belarusian] gas transit to Europe … shutting down the Yamal-Europe pipeline if the EU imposes new sanctions …. The Yamal-Europe pipeline is part of the northern route that also includes … Nord Stream 1 and 2 … and transits gas from Russia’s Arctic Yamal fields via Belarus to Poland and on to Germany. … [T]he Yamal-Europe pipeline is … [helping] alleviate the European gas crisis as … controversial Nord Stream 2 … has not received EU permission to start operating … Gazprom is not sending any more gas than it is required … under … a [2019] transit deal …. Europe is … suffering … [a] gas deficit for this winter’s heating season … [A]ny more [supply] interruptions … would send … gas spot market [prices] soaring again. …”