3rd AFCEA Europe Student Conference People, Projects and Perceptions - even thinking is participation! 26 October 2010 The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London, United Kingdom European Natural Gas Networks Errika Georges The American College of Greece

NATURAL GAS PIPELINES IN PROMOTING ENERGY SECURITY WITHIN THE EU AREA

ENERGY in the EU Need for energy import dependendency from unstable and insecure regions Today half of the EUs gas consumption comes from 3 countries: Russia 40% – Norway 25% - Algeria 30%. On current trends gas imports would increase to 20 % over the next 25 years Source: EU Green Paper, 2006

NATURAL GAS Commodity: being more strategically valuable Need for importing Natural Gas Pipelines: direct routes for the distribution of it create networks that serve DIFFERENT INTERESTS

2 Major Pipeline Projects Nabucco&South Stream U.S. + E.U. Russia Currently a very hot issue Under negotiation for:FINANCE RESOURCES

South Stream Pipeline

Russias position Market Economy is extremely dependent on The Exports from Natural Gas by 50% Natural gas reserves are extremely important

Analysis of Networks Transit Countries (retain sound relationships) Supply Countries (hard game) What is Russia doing?? Buys natural gas from Turkmenistan & Azerbaijan for 2 reasons:

Strategy Having sufficient reserves inside the country; Not spending their reserves Eliminating the reserves of the rival projects(!!)

Greek territory Geopolitically benefited: WHY? Pipelines of different interests will cross the country: Part of S. Stream Independent Pipeline I - nterconnector T - rans- T - urkeyA - driatic G - reeceP - ipeline I – taly(Gr. – Alb. – It.)

Strategically important for other reasons also: Seen as an energy hub and interconnector since Algerian liquefied natural gas (LNG) will be crossing Greece to reach Bulgaria. Possible alternatives – Strategic Partnerships??

Thank you for your attention