The country’s energy minister has warned that despite the country’s massive hydrocarbon reserves, it will not be able to single-handedly make up for the tens of billions of cubic meters of gas. This will be needed if Russia decides to completely stop the supply of gas to Europe. The EU has responded to Russian aggression in Ukraine by putting Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline on hold to ensure that Moscow would not be able to use natural gas as a “weapon”.
This retaliation by the EU against Russia has sparked fears that Mr Putin may decide to cut off the supply of gas to the continent entirely.
Politico reported this week that this is a genuine “worst-case” scenario that Mr Putin could unleash.
Qatari Energy Minister Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi warned a European Union official that the fossil fuel-rich country alone would not be able to save the EU, and there is no point in robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Tensions between Russia and Ukraine reached new heights when Russian President Vladimir Putin amassed around 100,000 Russian troops near the border with Ukraine in recent months.
The show of military strength, which also includes a build-up of tanks, artillery and missiles, has sparked fears of an imminent invasion.
Mr Putin has consistently denied that Russia intends to invade its neighbour.
If Russia did decide to retaliate by cutting off gas supplies to the EU completely, the bloc may be forced to pay four times as much for gas, imported from the US, Qatar, and others, according to Russian expert Murad Gazdiev.
He tweeted: “Russia exports 23.3 billion cubic feet per day (72% goes to Europe).
“US exports 9.6 billion cubic feet per day.
READ MORE: Europe, US pleading Qatar to divert gas supplies in case of Russia war