Race to Secure Gas for Europe’s Future Winters Has Already Begun


欧洲已经备足了今冬的天然气用量，但确保未来几年能源供应的任务依然紧迫，预计未来几年欧洲仍将受到严重短缺威胁的困扰。


在德国，一些公司担心这个十年后半段是否有足够的能源供应。图为德国一条在建天然气管道。

欧洲已经备足了今冬的天然气用量，但确保未来几年能源供应的任务依然紧迫，预计未来几年欧洲仍将受到严重短缺威胁的困扰。 6park.com
Though Europe has filled its reserves of natural gas for this winter, the clock is already ticking to secure energy for the coming years, which are expected to remain dogged by threats of severe shortages, 6park.com
  
目前欧盟天然气储备率约95%，许多分析师称，今年冬天欧洲大陆或可避免一场能源危机。但人们普遍预计，鉴于来自俄罗斯的大部分天然气供应已经切断，而且全球围绕有限的液化天然气(LNG)供应的争夺正在加剧，欧洲国家在为未来几年冬天采购天然气方面恐将面临更大困难。 6park.com
The European Union’s gas storage is around 95% full, and many analysts say the continent might avoid an energy calamity this winter. But procuring gas for coming winters is widely anticipated to become more difficult for European countries now that they are mostly cut off from Russian supplies and global competition is growing for finite cargoes of liquefied natural gas. 6park.com
  
2026年前后美国和卡塔尔相关规划项目上线之前，几乎没有增量液化天然气进入市场，未来几年欧洲可能要为紧张的供应展开争夺。 6park.com
There is little additional LNG coming to the market until around 2026, when planned projects in the U.S. and Qatar come online, and Europe likely will compete for tight supplies over the next few years. 6park.com
  
在被誉为欧洲制造业发动机的德国，一些公司担心这个十年后半段是否有足够的能源供应。据知情人士透露，包括化工生产商巴斯夫(BASF SE)和已经接受救助的公用事业公司Uniper SE在内的德国公司，最近几周与美国液化天然气出口商及其他公司进行了商谈，内容是可能在2025年之后开始的潜在天然气供应交易。 6park.com
Some companies in Germany, Europe’s manufacturing engine, are worried about having enough energy for the latter part of the decade. German companies including the chemical producer BASF SE and the bailed-out utility Uniper SE have held talks in recent weeks with America’s LNG exporters and others about potential gas-supply deals likely beginning after mid-decade, according to people familiar with the discussions.


在德国经营这家工厂的巴斯夫是该国最大的天然气用户之一。

俄罗斯入侵乌克兰后，一些欧洲公司转向美国采购液化天然气。现在，依赖天然气的企业表示，欧洲大陆未来几年将需要更多的美国液化天然气。 6park.com
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, some European companies signed contracts for U.S. LNG. Now businesses that rely on gas are saying the continent will need more of it for years to come. 6park.com
  
上述知情人士表示，这些谈判表明对能源安全有很大担忧，但谈判的情况非常复杂，虽然欧洲许多企业寻求五到10年的天然气供应，但一些公司和政府官员不愿意签署较长期供应合同。德国和其他欧洲国家已经制定了雄心勃勃的目标，要大幅减少化石燃料消耗，企业界担心日后它们不需要天然气时却仍然需要买单。 6park.com
The negotiations are indicative of elevated energy-security concerns, the people said, but are complicated because while many in Europe seek gas for five to 10 years, some company and government officials are reluctant to sign longer-term supply contracts. Germany and other European nations have set ambitious targets to reduce fossil-fuel consumption dramatically, and companies are worried they could be on the hook for gas they no longer need. 6park.com
  
巴斯夫和Uniper的发言人表示，巴斯夫和Uniper正寻找采购更多天然气的途径，包括采购液化天然气。 6park.com
BASF and Uniper are looking for ways to source more natural gas, including through LNG, spokespersons for the companies said. 6park.com
  
了解相关磋商内情的一些人士称，德国政府官员正密切关注有关天然气供应的磋商，包括与挪威石油天然气公司Equinor ASA的单独会谈，有时会就出口商应联系的公司提出建议。 6park.com
German government officials are monitoring the discussions about gas supplies, including separate talks with the Norwegian oil-and-gas company Equinor ASA, at times suggesting companies that exporters should contact, some of the people familiar with the discussions said. 6park.com
  
德国联邦经济和气候保护部发言人说，天然气采购是公司的责任。 6park.com
A spokeswoman for Germany’s Economy and Climate Ministry said that gas purchases are the responsibility of companies. 6park.com
  
Equinor首席执行官Anders Opedal在最近的一次采访中说，该公司正与德国工业界密切合作，在油气以及低碳能源领域为潜在的未来投资寻找共同基础。 6park.com
Equinor Chief Executive Anders Opedal said in a recent interview: “We are working closely with German industry to find common ground for potential future investments,” in oil and gas as well as low-carbon energy. 6park.com
  
并非只有德国公司在寻求获取天然气。法国、英国等国家面临电力短缺的威胁，而美国液化天然气公司的高管们一直在向欧洲国家政府寻求达成交易。英国化工公司Ineos Group AG的一家子公司今年早些时候与Sempra签署了一份不具约束力的供应协议，波兰能源公司Polskie Gornictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo SA也是如此。 6park.com
German companies aren’t alone in seeking to secure gas. Countries including France and the U.K. face threats of power shortages, and U.S. LNG executives have been calling on European governments looking for deals. A subsidiary of the British chemical company Ineos Group AG signed a nonbinding supply agreement with Sempra earlier this year, as did the Polish energy company Polskie Gornictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo SA. 6park.com
  
英国政府发言人说，将与国内外供应商合作，探讨或有助于增强能源供应安全的合约。 6park.com
A spokesman for the U.K. government said it is working with domestic and international suppliers to explore contracts that could increase the security of energy supply. 6park.com