Russia controls fuel supplies to much of Europe

World Peace Herald

"Russia controls fuel supplies to much of Europe
By Andrea R. Mihailescu
The Washington Times
Published April 22, 2006

WASHINGTON -- Russia, which has demonstrated its willingness to use energy as a political weapon, is tightening its grip on supplies to Western Europe, with projections showing it will provide 70 percent of the region's natural gas by 2025.

Until recently, members of the European Union were split into two 'zones' of dependence on Russian gas and oil. Russia has a virtual monopoly on supplying gas and oil to new EU members, mostly former Soviet satellites. Old Europe, on the other hand, is less dependent, but that dependence is growing. "