Climate change and Russian gas

As much as half of Russia`s natural gas reserves are in danger because of climate change, experts say.

Russian and British scientists have monitored temperatures and have warned officials that already tapped-in gas field infrastructure in western Siberia and the exploitation of future fields on the Yamal peninsula and eastern Siberia are threatened. The existing pipeline infrastructure would sink in the marsh, and even worse could happen: ‘The high-pressure oil and gas pipelines can explode,’ Roland Goetz, energy expert at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, told United Press International. ‘Roughly half of all Russian fields are affected,’
The melting of the permafrost then would likely lead to a soaring of energy prices. All the existing infrastructure — such as production facilities, pipelines, tanks, work housing and roads — would have to be adapted to accommodate the softer ground, and such comprehensive construction work is very costly. In parts of Siberia, where production is planned to start in the course of the coming years, initial production costs would significantly rise. ‘Building and producing on the much softer ground is more expensive,’ Goetz said, costs that are naturally handed over to the consumer.

The Russian environment monitoring agency, Roshydromet, earlier this year published a report called ‘Strategic prediction for the period of up to 2010-2015 of climate change expected in Russia and its impact on sectors of the Russian national economy,’ in which the agency warns of the dangers of permafrost melting to the Russian energy sector, which makes up a major part of the country`s economy and in recent years has transformed the country into an energy superpower.

In Moscow, however, officials have not showed any signs of concern yet.

Monsters and Critics