Foreign
Swedes may face ‘even worse’ energy situation next winter: expert
– The energy situation will be even worse next winter in Sweden, an expert from the Swedish Energy Agency warned on Saturday.
The Swedes, who have already experienced exceptionally high energy prices, can expect even higher prices next winter, the newspaper Dagens Nyheter (DN) reported, citing Anders Wallinder, the agency’s head of security of supply.
As a consequence of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Europe is trying to minimize its energy dependence on Russia. Before the conflict, 40 percent of the natural gas consumed in Europe was imported from Russia.
A citizen rides a bicycle on a road in Stockholm, Sweden, on November 21, 2022. (Photo by Wei Xuechao/)
Therefore, before the winter of 2023/2024, Europe will be dependent on shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States and the Middle East.
In addition to being considerably more expensive than natural gas, there are practical challenges, such as the fact that the current system relies heavily on imports from the east, which would have to be replaced by terminals for shipments coming from the other direction, he reported. DN.
“This will be resolved, but not without problems,” Wallinder said.
This photo taken on October 28, 2022 shows a pedestrian looking at Hogberg’s lighting store in the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Patrick Ekstrand/)
Unlike many other European countries, Sweden’s dependence on gas is very small, according to the Swedish Energy Agency. Natural gas only accounts for 3 percent of the total energy used.
However, since the Swedish electricity grid is connected to the rest of Europe, Sweden, especially the southern regions of the country, is also affected by high energy prices, according to the DN report. â–
(Xinhua)
