[Global Times Special Correspondent in Germany and Canada, Zhaodong Tao Short Room Liu Yupeng] As Europe is going through the sweltering heat and trying its best to store natural gas for this winter, Russia suddenly announced that it will temporarily close the "transportation of natural gas to Europe" from July 11 to 21. Two lines of Beixi-1" natural gas pipeline.

Although the Russian side claimed that the move was a planned technical maintenance, European public opinion generally believed that this was Russia's counterattack against Western sanctions.

Although this move does not completely cut off the gas supply to Europe, experts estimate that this move will reduce the gas transmission volume of the "Beixi-1" pipeline by 40% in July, which will lead to aggravation of the "gas shortage" in Europe, and has also caused repeated damages recently. New high European inflation is again under pressure.

The head of Germany's Federal Network Agency, which manages the energy network, warned that consumers would be "shocked" that Russia's reduction in natural gas supplies could lead to gas prices three times higher than in the past.

Data map: The pipeline of the "Beixi-2" natural gas pipeline project landing facility.

"Beixi-1" pipeline gas transmission will be reduced by 40%

　　According to a report by RIA Novosti on July 2, the Russian Beixi Natural Gas Pipeline Company issued a notice saying that from July 11 to 21, the two natural gas pipeline lines of "Beixi-1" will be temporarily closed.

The circular states that this is a planned preventive maintenance work, mainly to maintain mechanical components, automation systems, etc., to ensure the reliable, safe and efficient operation of natural gas pipelines.

The company emphasizes that this annual maintenance work has been planned in advance and the timing has been negotiated with upstream and downstream partners.

However, RIA Novosti quoted analysts as saying that "North Stream-1" is currently Russia's main gas pipeline to Europe, and this move will exacerbate the shortage of natural gas in the European market.

　　Russian natural gas market expert Timonin said on the 2nd that due to the closure of the pipeline, the gas transmission volume of Russia's "Nord Stream-1" pipeline to Europe may drop by 40% in July.

He said: “In May, the gas pipeline delivered 5.4 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe, which fell to 3.2 billion cubic meters in June. In July, the volume is expected to drop further, to about 1.3 billion cubic meters. meters. This may lead to a slowdown in the rate of gas injection from underground gas storages in European countries.”

　　According to the Russian Satellite News Agency, in mid-June, Gazprom (Gazprom) reduced the gas supply of the "Beixi-1" natural gas pipeline.

Gazprom said that this was caused by the delay in work caused by the failure of Siemens in Canada to send back the gas compressor units being repaired in Canada due to Canada's sanctions against Russia.

　German consumers will be 'shocked'

　　"Reducing natural gas supply may cause natural gas prices to be three times higher than in the past", Miller, director of the German Federal Network Agency, warned on the 2nd that the reduction of Russian natural gas supply will make the situation faced by German gas storage more complicated, and it is not ruled out that the government will take severe energy-saving measures , the price of natural gas may be 3 times the price in the past.

Miller said rising energy prices "would be a shock to consumers" against the backdrop of natural gas shortages.

　　The latest data from the German Federal Network Agency shows that as of July 1, 61.03% of the natural gas has been injected into the German gas storage.

However, Miller said that even if the underground gas storage is filled with 90% natural gas, Germany will not last for two and a half months without gas supply from Russia.

"If the supply of Russian natural gas delivered by the Nord Stream-1 pipeline remains at the current level, the German gas storage may not be able to fill 90% of the gas by November without additional measures," the Federal Network Agency said.

　　According to the German "Sunday Bild", according to the latest report of the Institute of Economics, one in four people in Germany, or about 20 million citizens, will fall into "energy poverty" in the future.

As of May this year, about 25% of people in Germany had to spend more than 10% of their household income on gas, electricity and gasoline and diesel.

　　The rest of Europe is also feeling the pain of high oil and gas prices.

Data released by the European Union on July 1 showed that the inflation rate of euro zone countries reached 8.6% in June, the highest since 1997.

Among them, the three Baltic countries (Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia) with the most aggressive sanctions against Russia have the highest inflation rate, ranking among the top three in the euro zone.

Inflation in France was just 6.5% in June, one of the lowest in Europe.

In this regard, the German newspaper Die Welt said with envy and jealousy that, according to the data of the think tank CREA, France has become the largest buyer of Russian LNG.

　U.S. companies go to Europe to make a profit

　　While Russia's natural gas supply to Europe is gradually decreasing, the United States' natural gas exports to Europe have continued to increase.

For the first time in June, EU imports of liquefied natural gas from the United States exceeded pipeline gas imports from Russia, according to the latest data from the International Energy Agency.

Russia's "Viewpoint" said on the 3rd that the increase in the supply of liquefied natural gas to Europe by the United States is not to help Europeans, but purely because exporting natural gas to Europe can make more money.

Germany's Handelsblatt quoted economist Erhardt as saying that in the next four years, if Germany buys expensive (US) liquefied natural gas to replace cheap Russian gas, it will cost about 1 trillion euros more.

　　While U.S. energy giants have made a fortune exporting to Europe in recent months, the surge in domestic oil prices has left ordinary people unbearable.

When asked by reporters "what would you say to families who can't afford high gas prices", Biden's economic adviser Diess said: "This is about the future of the liberal world order, and our position (on Russia sanctions) must be Be firm." This immediately sparked outrage in the United States.

Some American netizens sarcastically said: "The Biden administration means: Although you ordinary people will die for the free world order, I am willing to make you make this sacrifice." Senator Marshall denounced: "The Biden administration has forgotten that they should Work for the American people, not the liberal world order."

　　At the same time, another country is also trying to intervene in the European energy market.

"German Newsroom Network" said on the 3rd that Canada blocked Siemens from sending gas compressor units repaired in Canada to Russia on the grounds of sanctions against Russia.

The report said this may be part of Canada's attempt to step in to supply energy to Europe.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at the G7 summit that Canada is considering expanding its energy infrastructure to help Europe wean itself off Russian oil and gas.

To be sure, Canada is trying to get a slice of Europe's energy supply.