The volume of supply of Russian coal to Europe in 2021 increased by 12 percent compared with the previous year. Energy Minister Nikolai Schulgines shared such data in an interview with Russia 24 TV channel. The country has expanded the supply against the background of the deficit of coal and other energy resources in the region.
“In general, the supply of coal above last year and now increased even to Europe by 12 percent to the same period last year and the ATP [Asia-Pacific region],” said the head of the Ministry of Energy. Schulginov recalled that Russia would also remain a reliable supplier of another deficient type of fuel – gas. In October, Gazprom began to use the reserves of its storage facilities to send more gas to Europe.
In addition, Russia began to help China, which also faced the energy crisis. According to Shulginov, electricity supplies to this country in October have grown almost twice. “Increased supplies [to China], in fact, there are 90 percent of the previous month. This is still a request for one month – for October,” he told. The head of department added that if new requests arrive from China, the supply will continue, but their volume will be determined by the technical capabilities of Russia. “And with prices already, probably, the company” Inter RAO “[operator export-import of electricity in Russia] will figure out,” Schulgini concluded.
Europe faced the energy crisis in the fall of 2021. With the approach of the heating season, the exchange prices for gas in the region increased three times, since its reserves decreased to critical low levels, and the supply decreased. Because of this, electricity producers switched to other types of fuel, primarily on energy coal, which also began to rise. These factors caused the cost of electricity throughout Europe.