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				Russian Natural Gas Pipeline To Europe Is Vulnerable

From Gary North's (www.garynorth.com) Site:

Sept. 11, 1999

Article's original link: http://www.trendmonitor.com/y2kad.htm

If the pipeline that supplies one-third of Europe's natural gas should shut down, there wll be economic disruptions in Europe.

This is from TREND MONITOR (Sept.).

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If the Russian natural gas pipeline supplying both Eastern and Western Europe is interrupted, as Russian experts say it almost certainly will be, it will be a very difficult to start the gas flowing again with an uncertain electricity supply and sub-zero temperatures. Oil stops flowing at freezing temperatures which means that pipelines and refineries are at risk, even if there are relatively short power outages. In the US, which is far ahead of Russia in its preparations for the energy sector, "major" oil companies are reported adopting a fix on fail (FOF) policy on wells, pipelines and refineries.

Another reported implication is that if the electricity fails, some nuclear plants may have difficulty cooling their cores if they are to be shut down, creating a real danger of accidental melt-downs.

The economic, environmental and social implications of the failure of the Russian gas and oil pipeline network are so enormous - for Europe and the rest of the world - that the necessary resources must be made available on an international level to ensure that:

i. the operation of the Siberian gas pipeline network is made secure,

ii. nuclear reactors everywhere have sustainable back up electrical systems which do not depend on national grids,

iii. as many alternative local electricity sources are built as possible.

All the countries of Europe and all the people of Europe are at risk of having to deal with the consequences of severe energy shortages and consequent energy price increases.

Although it is not certain that this scenario will come true, even if no remedial action is taken, the seriousness of the multiple risks warrants emergency action now on a "just in case" basis. A huge investment in sustainable energy systems is required, both for deployment around nuclear sites and within communities. . . .

Continuing denial by governments and the media of the possible magnitude of the risk to key energy systems is the greatest danger at the moment because it is preventing people and companies from making appropriate contingency preparations.

Stories

Oil and Gas

An April 1999, article in Computer Business Review quotes Professor Andrey Terekhov, a Russian Y2K expert, saying "the gas and electricity started work so late that their systems simply will not be ready in time". . . .