BERLIN (Own report) – In view of the EU’s summit meeting, later this week, the “fracking” lobby and NATO are intensifying their pressure for the EU to initiate the highly controversial “hydraulic fracturing.” There are indications that the German Bundestag could speed up legislation allowing this dangerous gas production technique. The outgoing NATO General Secretary Anders Fogh Rasmussen is implying that fracking opponents are in fact working as agents for the Russian government. This incredible slander coincides with global transatlantic strategies aimed at using the current fracking boom in the USA and other western countries, to significantly weaken or even eliminate Russia’s influence as a producer of natural gas. If Moscow can no longer sell its gas to the EU, it could hardly avoid painful budget cuts. This would have serious consequences for Putin’s position of power at home and his influence in global politics. Regardless of such campaigns, German and US energy companies are pressing ahead with fracking in Europe – while continuing to do business with Russia.
EU’s “Energy Security”
These new moves favoring fracking are taking place in the run-up to the EU summit, which begins in Brussels later this week. The summit will also discuss ways the EU could reduce its “energy dependence.” At present, 39 percent of the EU’s gas imports originate in Russia. On May 28, the European Commission presented an “In-depth study of European Energy Security” as a basis for the current debate. The study proposes inter alia the diversification of energy supplies, enhanced energy saving measures, as well as the development of the internal energy infrastructure of the EU, to provide the possibility for operating the flow of the pipelines in both directions (“reverse flow”). This would allow countries, which had been mainly or even exclusively dependent on supplies from Russia, to receive supplies from western countries. (german-foreign-policy.com reported.[1]) The EU strategy paper also mentions “the increase of indigenous energy sources,” explicitly shale gas, produced by the risky and highly controversial hydraulic fracturing. Current exploration efforts have been “hampered” not least of all by lack of public acceptance, notes the paper.[2]
Permission under Certain Conditions
Environmental organizations and citizens’ initiatives in numerous countries are mobilizing against fracking – also in Germany. Nevertheless, energy companies have already begun exploring fracking possibilities in Germany. BASF subsidiary, Wintershall, for example, obtained a relevant concession in North Rhine-Westphalia. The German-Canadian “Central European Petroleum” claims to have discovered, through exploratory fracking, oil reserves of around five million tons in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Its value is estimated at more three billion Euros.[3] The fracking lobby is thus intensifying its pressure. According to press reports, the German Minister of the Economy, Sigmar Gabriel (SPD), will permit hydraulic fracturing “under certain conditions” and is therefore preparing changes to “regulations concerning the assessment of environmental sustainability of mining projects,” which will soon be presented to the Cabinet and the Bundestag. Already in March, Gabriel told the boulevard press that, even though he thinks that the “current techniques are too risky for human beings and the environment. But the companies are doing research on better technology.” He announced, “we will need to examine the results.”[4]
Support for Fracking Companies
The EU is allocating a triple-digit million sum for the relevant research. According to a report, these funds can be used within the framework of the “Horizon 2020” research fund, which the European Commission adopted in late 2013 and will remain accessible until 2020. A total of 113 million Euros have been made available for projects concerning fracking “repercussions and risks.” The report notes that “the money will flow to gas companies, which otherwise would have to pay for the research themselves.” The first 33 million Euros will still be allocated this year. Officially this program “was launched to promote ‘competitive and low-carbon energy’.” However, it will now benefit companies interested in fracking.[5]
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Threatened with Loss of Power
If the EU could be supplied with more LNG and US shale gas, and if the EU could enhance its own supply through fracking, Russia could be “hard hit,” according to the US magazine “Foreign Affairs”. 50 percent of Russia’s budget is derived from its sales of resources. A drop in prices and sales would force Russia to make painful budget reductions. “Russian President Vladimir Putin’s influence could diminish, creating new openings for his political opponents at home and making Moscow look weak abroad.”[6] Russia’s position in global politics would be seriously endangered.
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Business with Russia
Particularly those energy companies, seeking to engage or having long since been engaged in lucrative business deals with Russia, are interested in developing fracking in Europe. Among German companies, BASF subsidiary, Wintershall, holds an eminent position in hydraulic fracturing. Wintershall is exceptionally enmeshed with the Russian gas industry.[9] The US Exxon Mobile Corporation is also banking on fracking in Europe. But, aside from this, it has signed a deal with the Russian Rosneft oil company, involving “the drilling for crude in the Arctic and Siberia and liquefying natural gas for export.”[10] The stigma of ‘agents of Moscow’ is also aimed at intimidating opponents of western elite projects in the case of fracking. This does not exclude the lucrative business deals the ruling circles have made with Russia.
Full article: Energy as a Weapon (II) (German Foreign Policy)
Global Geopolitics 