22-01-09 Having endured the pains of suspension of gas supply from Russia in the middle of a bitterly cold winter, the European Union (EU) is seeking to reduce its dependence on supplies from the country. And Nigerian gas is top on the log of alternatives sources the EU is banking on.
The EU explores options on shielding its people from the political dimension gas supply has taken in the face of the dispute between Russia and Ukraine.

Jaroslav Siro, Czech Republic's ambassador and EU Presidency representative to Nigeria, spoke of the new EU direction while briefing newsmen on the priorities of the Czech presidency and EU-Nigerian relations. Siro stated that energy stood as one of the highest priorities of the Czech presidency, a fact he noted was further underlined by the recent crisis on gas supply to Europe.
Russia's Gazprom had only weeks ago stopped gas supplies to the Ukraine causing acute shortages of the product. Russia supplies 80 % of gas to Europe, 20 % of which comes through the Ukraine. Hence Slovakia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and, to a lesser degree, the rest of continental Europe suffered severe gas shortage during the crisis.

According to Siro, "what we would like to see is the diversification of the energy supplies from all over the world and within this we can find also the possibility of getting gas supplies from Nigeria. There are gas supplies from the Caspian areas but I think Nigerian gas would play a very significant role," he said.
Emphasizing Europe's growing interest in Nigeria's oil and gas sector, the envoy however cast a shadow of doubt on the possibility of European involvement in the proposed trans-Saharan gas pipeline.

Andris Piebalgs, commissioner for energy at the European Commission, while visiting Nigeria in September 2008 had expressed Europe's interest in investing in the trans-Saharan pipeline.
"But I don't know if there are some recent negotiations already about the trans-Saharan gas pipeline. I understand there are two ways to export gas to Europe. The liquidized gas to transport it by ship to Europe and the other way is the trans-Saharan gas pipeline. So I think studies must be done to find out what would be better and more efficient for Europe," Siro said. "But as you understand it's a lot of money involved. It's quite a long pipeline via several African countries to Algeria and from Algeria to Europe. It is a very important project but it needs more consideration," he explained.

Effective January 1, 2009, the Czech Republic took over the rotational presidency of the EU from the French.
The term would last six months after which the baton is expected to be passed on to Sweden.