russian gas shortage

Should move on this news one would think !!

Russian Gas Shortfall Is `Urgent' Concern, U.K. Lawmakers Say

By Mark Deen

Nov. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Russian gas production may not be enough to supply both the country's domestic needs and its export markets in Western Europe, a panel of U.K. lawmakers said.

``The prospective shortfall in Russian gas production represents an urgent energy security concern for the European Union,'' Parliament's Foreign Affairs committee said today in a report. The threat ``is a greater one than the risk of Russia disrupting supplies for political reasons.''

Western Europe imports about a quarter of its gas from Russia, which threatened to cut of supplies to Belarus in December 2006 and temporarily cut off deliveries to Ukraine the previous January. The U.K. is a net gas importer.

In the report on relations with Russia, the committee also recommended Prime Minister Gordon Brown should seek to re- negotiate its extradition agreements with Russia. Britain expelled four Russian diplomats in July after Russia refused to extradite ex-KGB agent Andrei Lugovoi to be tried for the killing of Alexander Litvinenko in London. Russia responded by expelling four British envoys.

To contact the reporters on this story: Mark Deen in London at [email protected]

Last Updated: November 25, 2007 04:53 EST