The External Dimension of the EU Energy Security in the Field of Natural Gas – the Approach to Diversification of Suppliers
Abstract
The paper deals with one aspect of the external dimension of EU energy
security, namely the question of diversification of the natural gas supply in
the case of import dependence. The diversification of natural gas imports
plays a specific role, as it depends on the capability and acceptability of new
transport routes. The aim of this paper is to create a methodological
framework for evaluating individual variants of the diversification of
pipelines and suppliers by using quantitative methods. For the comparison
of gas pipeline variants, six criteria were chosen (annual gas pipeline
capacity, the contract price and margins negotiated with the natural gas
producer and transit states, the remaining available natural gas reserves in
the source country, political and security stability of source countries, the
number and political and security stability of transit countries, and energy
density of natural gas). From the criteria an index was constructed. This
makes it possible to compare alternatives while taking into account the
political and economic dimension in the planning and implementation of
transport networks.
Keywords
Energy security, security of supply criteria, pipeline, materialistic approach, the Index of comparison of supply routes, EU
Author Biography
Zbyněk Dubský
Zbyněk Dubský, born 1974, is an Assistant Professor at the Jan Masaryk Centre of
International Studies at the Faculty of International Relations, the University
of Economics in Prague. He graduated from the International Business
program at the University of Economics in Prague, and obtained his Ph.D. in
International Political Relations from the same university. He specializes in
security issues, including their impacts on practical security measures,
especially in Europe, and he also specializes in the European integration
process.
Daniel Pavliňák
Daniel Pavliňák born in 1994, is a Master’s student of in the International Business program at the Faculty of International Relations, University of Economics in Prague, and also in the International Business Realities program at IAE, Université
Jean Moulin Lyon 3. He got his bachelor’s degree in International Economic
Relations – Diplomacy at the University of Economics in Prague.
Academically he focuses on quantitative methods in energy security and
the links between energy sectors and economic development.