Page 6 - aruba-today-20220929

A6 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 29 sepTember 2022
Europe ramps up energy security after suspected sabotage

By LORNE COOK and JAN dropped from their all-time
M. OLSEN peak in late August be-
Associated Press cause countries have filled
BRUSSELS (AP) — European storage facilities to 87% of
companies are ramping capacity ahead of winter,
up security around pipe- when demand for the fuel
lines and energy prices are soars to heat homes and
climbing again as the sus- generate electricity.
pected sabotage of two But Europe’s natural gas
pipelines that deliver natu- prices have spiked about
ral gas from Russia under- 14% since the pipeline rup-
scored the vulnerability of tures rattled nerves about
Europe’s energy infrastruc- energy security.
ture and prompted the EU Natural gas prices are
to warn of possible retalia- roughly three times higher
tion. than just before Russia in-
Some European officials vaded Ukraine. An energy
and energy experts have crisis driven by the war is
said Russia is likely to blame threatening rationing, busi-
for any sabotage it directly ness closures and recession
benefits from higher energy in Europe. The continent’s
prices and economic anxi- ability to get through winter
ety across Europe although will be deeply affected by
others cautioned against how cold it is and whether
pointing fingers until inves- A large disturbance in the sea can be observed off the coast of the Danish island of Bornholm they can find supplies to
tigators are able to deter- Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022 following a series of unusual leaks on two natural gas pipelines running make up for what’s been
from Russia under the Baltic Sea to Germany have triggered concerns about possible sabotage.
mine what happened. Associated Press lost from Russia. Another
Russia has sharply curtailed major source of Russian in-
natural gas shipments to low in energy policy at the bust and united response.” gun to fortify energy infra- come oil has fallen sharply
Europe in retaliation for Center for Eastern Studies in Three leaks were reported structure. in price from June peaks of
sanctions that the West put Warsaw. Seismologists say on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 Norwegian state oil com- over $120 per barrel. q
in place after its invasion of explosions rattled the Baltic pipelines, which were filled pany Equinor said it raised On Wednesday, Brent
Ukraine. On Wednesday, Sea before unusual leaks with natural gas but not de- the level of preparedness crude futures traded at
Russian energy giant Gaz- were discovered Tuesday livering fuel to Europe ever on all of its facilities, ac- $87.40 per barrel, up more
prom increased the pres- on the two underwater since Russia stopped the cording to national broad- than 5% since Monday.
sure, threatening on Twit- pipelines running from Rus- flow to apply economic caster NRK. Norway’s ener- The extent of the pipe-
ter to cease dealing with sia to Germany. pressure on the continent. gy exports have surged as line damage, along with
a Ukrainian company that “All available informa- Kremlin spokesman Dmi- European countries scram- the political ramifications,
controls one of the two re- tion indicates those leaks try Peskov said allegations ble to find alternatives to raises serious doubts about
maining pipelines that ship are the result of a deliber- that Russia would have Russian supplies. the future of the Nord
Russian gas to Europe. ate act,” EU foreign policy sabotaged its own pipe- “What happened in the Stream project, which was
Coming on top of the ap- chief Josep Borrell said in a lines were “predictable Baltic Sea is very serious,” launched so that Russia
parent sabotage to the statement on behalf of the and stupid.” Norwegian Prime Minister could deliver gas directly to
Nord Stream gas pipelines, bloc’s 27 members. “Any Yet as fears of further dis- Jonas Gahr Støre told a Germany. The project has
“that means a major es- deliberate disruption of Eu- ruptions loomed, European press conference in Oslo. been heavily criticized by
calation and readiness ropean energy infrastruc- energy companies and Before the pipeline leaks the West because it only in-
to escalate,” said Agata ture is utterly unacceptable governments said Wednes- discovered Tuesday, natu- creased Europe’s reliance
Loskot-Strachota, senior fel- and will be met with a ro- day they have already be- ral gas prices in Europe had on Russian gas imports.q

Spanish vultures released in Cyprus to replenish population

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Cyprus’ Game and Fauna in the wilderness.
Some 15 Griffon vultures Service has attached GPS A recent study suggested
from Spain have been re- transmitters to all the vul- that the species of bird
leased into the wild in Cy- tures to monitor their move- would disappear from Cy-
prus to help revive the east ments and well-being. prus in about 15 years if
Mediterranean island’s From previous releases of nothing was done to elimi-
population that’s dropped vultures elsewhere in Eu- nate the poisoning threat
to just 8-10 birds because of rope, it’s expected that the and replenish the popula-
deliberate poisoning, con- birds will intermingle with tion with vultures brought
servationists said Wednes- the remaining indigenous from abroad. Another 15
day. vulture population at feed- vultures flown in from Spain
The LIFE with Vultures CY ing and roosting locations. which hosts 90-95% of Eu-
group said the large birds Conservationists say restor- rope’s population of the
were initially brought to the ing the local vulture popu- birds will be released in Cy-
east Mediterranean island lation to its former numbers prus next year. The Griffon
nation nearly a year ago remains a long-term goal, vulture, which can grow up
and stayed in a specially with the most pressing issue to 1.2 meters (4 feet) long
constructed cage to get A griffon vulture flies free after released near the Korfi village in being to eradicate the big- and have a wingspan of
Limassol district in the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus,
acclimatized to local con- Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. gest threat to the species 2.8 meters (9 feet), feeds
ditions before their release. Associated Press which is use of poison bait on animal carcasses.q