MOSCOW (Sputnik), Anna Liatsou — US supplies of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe cannot compete with Russian gas deliveries, Greek Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis told Sputnik news agency.
“US gas will never substitute nor satisfy Europe’s demand for natural gas,” Lafazanis said, adding that US attempts to enter Europe’s LNG market were “a strategic maneuver to help isolate Russia further.”
Russia, the world’s largest gas exporter, provides about 30 percent of the European Union’s gas.
“Russian natural gas deliveries to Europe are essential to meet its demands, they are in Europe’s own interest,” the Greek energy minister said after a meeting with his Russian counterpart in Moscow.
Last year, Russian energy giant Gazprom came up with an initiative to bring Russian gas to Central Europe via Turkey and Greece. Athens is considering this project, dubbed Turkish Stream, which will make Greece a gas hub for Europe.
