Lights out, ovens off: Europe preps for winter energy crisis

Meanwhile, in Russia gas bills, electricity bills and prices at the pump are at record lows.

Because they have no one to sell their oil to. The supply of foreign money has been turned off. Rather like the cold war as the USSR got poorer and poorer over the decades until it ran out of money.

Add in the costs of all those weapons (and cash) being given Zelensky to support his war on half the Ukrainian population, and being a minion of American expansionism turns out to be quite costly.

Ah-so...

Because they have no one to sell their oil to.

Really? China and India are buying record levels and you may be surprised to hear that many European NATO countries are also buying Russian oil at inflated prices via India.

It will be the most miserable time of the year,if you not in America,we have plenty of food,fuel and American fools

Meanwhile, in Russia gas bills, electricity bills and prices at the pump are at record lows.

People are buying Land Cruisers from Japan because fuel is so cheap.

Lower wages.

The average hourly wage in Russia is 600 RUB or USD 8.09 (US Dollars), and the hourly minimum wage is 150 RUB (USD 2.01). Russia has a median salary of 110,000 RUB per month (USD 1,472.90). This means that half of the population earns less than 110,000 RUB while the other half earns more than 110,000 RUB.

Thank the woke politicians who imposed the sanctions on Russia. As predicted, it's the citizens of Europe who are and will be paying the price of the sanctions.

One of the reasons for maddie-vladdie's panic is that not only are his combat alfalfa orcs being ejected, Western Europe is set to make it through the winter without Russian gas.

Yeah, its going to be less than fun, but no knuckling under to the midget from Moscow.

Sorry putie, no dollars for you.

European brought this own themselves,and old saying goes ,lie down with a dog,you come up with Russian fleas

Really? China and India are buying record levels

Looks like India has almost stopped:

https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/Why-India-Is-Suddenly-Buying-Less-Russian-Crude.html

In September, Indian refiners are not expected to buy any ESPO crude from Russia because of the higher shipping rates, industry sources told Reuters on Thursday.  

"On net back basis after factoring in the freight, the landed cost of ESPO is turning out to be $5-$7 a barrel costlier in comparison to similar grades from other countries such as UAE's Murban," an Indian industry source with knowledge of the deals and prices told Reuters.

Really? China and India are buying record levels and you may be surprised to hear that many European NATO countries are also buying Russian oil at inflated prices via India.

And where are the pipelines to transport this oil and gas and how did they get built?

Because there quite simply there is not the infrastructure to transport that amount of product. It simply doesn't exist.

And both India and China are purchasing what is delivered at steep discounts of up to 30%.

AND the idea that NATO countries are purchasing oil at a price increase on the secondary market is just beyond stupid. It just beggars belief.

Quote: In poorer eastern Europe, people are stocking up on firewood.

Given the decline of sterling from $1.65 to a tad above parity with the dollar, the UK is doing that too.

Cost of living: Families bringing boarded-up fires back into use. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-62984561

The wealthy won't notice. The comfortably off will just grumble. Any government that rations energy will be kicked out of power very quickly by angry voters. Their first job is to keep the lights on. Everything else, including Russia, comes second.

Cold borscht in the dark... an 'American picnic' while clothed in Arctic gear for Europe. Thanks for your 'sacrifice', guys, but don't expect it to be remembered by the U.S.. But do expect to be 'remembered' by your European cousin, Russia, for being the pawns on the U.S. chessboard that ever only favors U.S. Corporate and Major Stockholder's interests and for whom 'friends' simply means easily manipulated suckers.

AND the idea that NATO countries are purchasing oil at a price increase on the secondary market is just beyond stupid. It just beggars belief.

Not oil, but refined petroleum products. India has the 4th largest refinery capacity in the world and also the worlds largest oil refinery. And in the initial days of the Ukraine invasion, India was able to buy cheap Russian crude oil and sell refined petroleum products to Europe for a neat profit.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-13/indian-backdoor-for-russian-oil-weakens-calls-for-european-ban

But as others have pointed out, this may be changing now because after adding the cost of shipping, oil from traditional suppliers from the Middle East is cheaper for India.

Unless Russia offers more discounts.

Nemo,maybe they will dig up the gas lines in Ukraine,Ukrainain are transporting Russian gas

Sad state of affairs for your average European. EU and NATO should have prepared for this years ago. Relying on a foreign nation and then antagonising that nation not a very clever policy. VP may be despicable, but that doesn't excuse the lack of foresight that EU have demonstrated on this topic.

The Farm is busy today.

I remember the energy crisis in 1974. Three day weeks, TV finishing early, shopping by candlelight etc. I am well prepared for any power cuts that MAY occur in the UK this winter but, unlike 1974, most people are already deliberately reducing their electricity and gas usage due to the higher costs, so demand will fall. The UK should manage.

Nemo,maybe they will dig up the gas lines in Ukraine,Ukrainain are transporting Russian gas

And put them where, preciesely?

And that would take years, not months, years.

To ship by sea would require basically the entire world maritime fleet of oil tankers to keep the supply going.

No, the Russians are not replacing EU customers with Indian and Chinese customers on a one-to-one basis at the same volumes or at the same prices.

The infrastructure does not exist to sell that volume. And the Indians and Chinese know that the Russians need customers. They are demanding and receiving discounts of up to 30%.

So, no.

Meanwhile, in Russia gas bills, electricity bills and prices at the pump are at record lows.

People are buying Land Cruisers from Japan because fuel is so cheap. 

The EU sanctioned itself

Bingo!

bass4funk

you would never survive on Russian wages.

Bingo!

No surprise to see the regular Mini-me supporters on here spouting the same pro-fascist line.

Europe will get through this, they have survived far worse, and emerge stronger. They will never again rely on fascist Russia for energy - which is a great thing.

Meanwhile in fascist Russia there are families sending untrained, ill-prepared and unwilling men to their deaths when they invade a foreign land. Bring your own body bag.

I'd much rather be in Europe than fascist Russia.

 Europe heads into winter in the throes of an energy crisis, offices are getting chillier. Statues and historic buildings are going dark. 

So they made their choice.

Support Nazi regime - it's always a little bit too expensive. But they never learned.

Sad state of affairs for your average European. EU and NATO should have prepared for this years ago. Relying on a foreign nation and then antagonising that nation not a very clever policy.

I'm totally agree with you.

Very very strange idea

you would never survive on Russian wages.

Well, that would never happen, so that particular thought never even entered my mind.

Olegek, you are right there is always too high a cost in supporting fascist regimes which is why Europe and the civilised world is supporting free democratic Ukraine and not the fascist dictatorship in russia.

The cost to Europe is some inconvenience and short term adaptation while we pivot away from russian fossil fuel and blackmail, the cost to russia and russian mothers is the mass sacrifice of their children, brothers and husbands on the alter of poo tins ego.

I would rather live in Europe than russia.