Siberian gas for Europe: pipeline into Germany causes controversy

Journal Article · Fri May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981 · EUROPE; (United States)

OSTI ID:6242052

Boyes, R

The controversial plan to build a 5000-km natural-gas pipeline from Siberia to Germany involves complex negotiations between banks, pipeline builders, and gas distributors. The project will use Western technology and piping to move 40 billion cubic meters of gas a year to Europe. The US and some German critics object to increasing German dependence on Russian gas at a time when East-West tension is high and question the size of estimated gas demand by 1990. They also point out that the deal is more lucrative for Moscow, but other views question whether the Reagan administration really favors East-West trade as a political stabilizer. Supporters of the deal cite employment opportunities to offset the present recession. Geopolitical arguments claim that keeping Soviet gas for domestic use will delay the Soviet Union's entrance into world oil markets, but counter arguments say that a large gas market will give Western Europe political leverage. (DCK)

• OSTI ID: 6242052
• Journal Information: EUROPE; (United States), Vol. 225
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
03 NATURAL GAS
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
NATURAL GAS
PIPELINES
SIBERIA
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
POLITICAL ASPECTS
TRADE
WESTERN EUROPE
AGREEMENTS
ASIA
EASTERN EUROPE
ENERGY SOURCES
EUROPE
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
USSR
294003* - Energy Planning & Policy- Natural Gas
032000 - Natural Gas- Transport
Handling
& Storage