Now, the battle for natural gas between Russia and the United States is final part. This chapter will introduce about the Russia’s background of natural gas in Russia-Ukraine war.
President Putin’s decision sent shockwaves across the globe, sparking widespread criticism and intense debate.
It must be that Russia was fully aware of the risks when making its decision, but had to act by the reason of growing shift to green energy. The demand for oil and coal is expected to fall in the next few decades.
Russia’s Severe Climate and Natural Resources
The majority of the land of Russia is characterized by extremely cold climate. It is unimaginably cold. In Siberia, one of the coldest regions, temperature goes as low as -60 degree.
Most of regions experience average winter temperatures between -30 and -40 degree.
Russia’s winters are so severe as much as historically prominent enemies such as Napoleon and Hitler prompted to retreat. It is an anecdote that the harsh Russian climate defend from intruders without even lifting finger.
So the extremely cold climate in Russia restricts areas where human habitation is feasible. Thereby impeding the growth of commercial and industrial activities. Furthermore, the development of large-scale solar and wind power generation is constrained by limitations. Russia has a lot of geological disadvantage to its economical grow.
Instead of the harsh climate, Russia was gifted abundant natural resources, and Russian economy has been largely supported by exports of oil, coal, and natural gas. When the time comes, the demand for crude oil and coal declines, what can fill the gap left by oil and coal is only natural gas, which is expected to grow along green energy movement.
Of course, there are abundant resources such as hydrogen, ammonia, palladium, and platinum that can be profitable for decarbonized use.
However, these resources are not yet in high enough demand to immediately replace the revenue of oil and coal.
Global clean hydrogen demand outlook
Hydrogen, particularly “green” hydrogen produced via renewable energy, is poised to play a pivotal role in industries such as transportation and energy storage.While demand for hydrogen increased by nearly 10% in 2023, it remains concentrated in refining and traditional industrial sectors, with emerging applications accounting for less than 1% of the market.
Additionally, palladium and platinum are used in hydrogen fuel cells, and there is a possibility that their demand could increase as hydrogen projects expand.
For example, platinum’s role in hydrogen production could potentially account for a third of the total platinum market by the late 2030s.
Growth of Hydrogen Economy Fueling Rising Platinum Demand – INN
Despite the economic shift towards green technologies is certainly underway, but it will take time for these new resources to be fully integrated into the market and replace the existing fossil fuel industries.
Given this, it’s plausible that Putin, facing such a significant global change, would act to secure Russia’s current economic stability.
That is presumably why Putin took a risk to survive.
Who is to blame?
Media reports have largely characterized Russia as an antagonistic entity, engaging in an aggressive incursion into Ukraine with the aim of reviving the former Soviet Union. Although some have suggested that this characterization is a form of Western propaganda.
However, when the Russia-Ukraine issue is examined as focusing on the basis of natural gas, it becomes clear that Russia is not necessarily at fault.
If Ukraine were not in such an important location for natural gas, the West would not have continued to send arms and fund to this extent. Even there would have been no war at all.
Then the question is, who is responsible for that so many people have already fallen victim of war?
In today’s world, energy is indispensable to modern daily life. Without energy, nothing can be done. Such a small gadget smartphone can not be turned on. It will be no products in the store.
Therefore, who controls energy controls the world, controlling energy is a critical factor that influences a whole world. It is about global governance. So the battle of energy dominance seems that is never to cease.
The Russia-Ukraine war is the battle of United State and Russia over natural gas. It started from the fear of the US toward Russia’s ability, huge power of natural gas.
In order to orchestrate Russia’s disengagement from the global stage, a scenario was meticulously devised, wherein Russia is assigned the role of the antagonist. This strategic narrative is a fundamental component of the broader geopolitical agenda of the Biden Administration.
Russia and the United State, two super powers in the world. It might be their fate to be rival. But rivalry is not enmity. Russia is not enemy of any countries, even to Ukraine.
Where will Moscow sell its oil and gas? – DW
Russia’s War in Ukraine – Foreign Policy
Toward New Era
While Russia has faced intense criticism, another movement is occurring. Russia is simultaneously forging stronger relationships with countries such as China, India, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Iran, North Korea…..Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Hungary… so on.
These nations are pursuing policies that stand in sharp contrast to those of the West and NATO, offering a distinctly different worldview.
Every country possesses unique resources and assets, and each has a distinct opportunity to thrive economically and geopolitically. No one can control the natural flow of time or manipulate global trends driven by the genuine needs and demands of people.
Triggered by Russia’s unfortunate situation, as searching new standard toward future, A new era is now just about to born.
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