Countering sanctions and mastering advanced technologies: Putin endorses the Doctrine of Energy Security

Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a new doctrine of the country's energy security. The corresponding decree was published on the portal of legal information.

“Russia, on the basis of its national interests, its resource and intellectual potential, taking into account the need to achieve the goals of sustainable development defined by the UN General Assembly, makes a significant contribution to ensuring international energy security,” the document says.

The doctrine replaces a similar document adopted in 2012. Responsibility for pursuing an energy policy lies with the Russian government. Regions, within the framework of their authority, will also contribute to the implementation of the doctrine.

In the doctrine of energy security adopted by Putin, the current world challenges are listed. These are a shift in the center of world economic growth to the Asia-Pacific region, a slowdown in the growth of demand for energy resources and, at the same time, increased competition due to the growing raw material base.

In addition, the international regulatory framework in the field of energy is changing, the production of liquefied gas is growing, its share is also increasing, and renewable energy sources are developing.

At the same time, it is especially noted that Russia supports environmental initiatives. However, Moscow opposes bias in environmental issues.

“Russia considers inadmissible consideration of the issues of climate change and environmental protection from a biased point of view, infringement of the interests of the states-producers of energy resources,” the document says.

• © Sergei Karpukhin / Reuters

Impact of sanctions

Russia cannot fully ensure international energy security due to the anti-Russian sanctions imposed by foreign countries, the doctrine says.

“The full-scale participation of the Russian Federation in ensuring international energy security is hindered by restrictive measures imposed by a number of foreign states on the Russian Federation ... as well as opposition from a number of foreign states and international organizations to energy projects implemented with the participation of the Russian Federation,” the doctrine underlines.

Recall that after the events of 2014 in Ukraine, the United States and the European Union countries imposed sanctions against Russia regarding the oil and gas sectors. In the following years, the sanctions lists were expanded several times. In particular, they concern the companies Gazprom, LUKOIL, Rosneft and Surgutneftegaz.

Moreover, the US is trying to stop the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Europe. On May 8, the United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that Washington should not allow construction to be completed.

“Russia wants to have Nord Stream 2 in order to use energy as a lever of pressure on Europe. We should not allow it to continue (implement the project. - RT ), - he said.

The American ambassador to Germany, Richard Grennel, twice warned German companies about the possible imposition of sanctions for participating in the project. Moreover, according to Foreign Policy magazine, a bill on restrictive measures has already been proposed in the US Senate.

Despite the fact that the main partner of the project, Germany, supports the construction of a gas pipeline, some EU countries are in favor of restrictions on Nord Stream 2.

Earlier, the EU Council has added amendments to the Gas Directive, which extend its actions to the sea routes. According to the document, the gas producing company will not be able to own the gas pipeline at the same time. In addition, the operator of the line will have to provide access to it for other suppliers.

Germany has achieved a softening of the requirements - now the decision to exclude the gas pipeline from the effect of the directive is taken by the country in whose territory the pipeline is built into the EU infrastructure. In the case of the Nord Stream - 2, we are talking about the Federal Republic of Germany itself.

• The ship Solitaire performs laying of the Nord Stream - 2 gas pipeline in Russian waters.
• © Thomas Eigster / RIA News

The doctrine approved by Putin specifies the tasks, the implementation of which will help protect against foreign policy risks. Thus, it proposes the development of relations within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union and the CIS, BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and dialogue with the states of the countries of the Gas Exporting Countries, OPEC and other organizations.

It is also intended to combat discrimination in world markets.

“Countering discrimination in the global energy markets of Russian organizations of the fuel and energy complex that export products, technologies and services and participate in international projects,” the doctrine emphasizes.

"The creation and development of advanced technologies"

From the point of view of the domestic market, the main challenges are the transition to a new model of socio-economic development, the aging of the population and, in general, a decrease in the number of able-bodied citizens.

At the same time, there are also threats to domestic energy security - a mismatch between the capabilities of the fuel and energy complex (FEC) and the development needs of Russia, a decline in the quality of the resource base (depletion of deposits), personnel “hunger” of the fuel and energy complex, an increase in the number of crimes in the energy sector and in the field of labor relations.

Among the tasks for the development of the fuel and energy complex is the development of infrastructure and energy facilities in Eastern Siberia, the Russian Arctic, the Far East, the North Caucasus, the Crimea and the Kaliningrad region.

The doctrine emphasizes the need to maintain the technological unity of the gas supply system and ensure reliable and uninterrupted operation of pipelines. Separately spelled out the task of the development of the domestic market of liquefied gas.

“Ensuring a cost-effective combination of the use of centralized electricity and heat supply systems with the development of distributed generation of electric energy and the intellectualization of energy systems, as well as using local resources, including renewable energy sources,” the document says.

Moreover, it is planned to ensure the technological independence of the Russian fuel and energy complex. As part of it, technologies will be developed and equipment will be created to replace imported from other countries.

"The development of domestic scientific and technological potential, the creation and development of advanced technologies in the energy sector, including technologies for the use of renewable energy sources, increased production of competitive main and auxiliary equipment on the territory of the Russian Federation," the doctrine stated.