Explained: What is Gazprom and what makes it so powerful?

The Lakhta Centre tower, the tallest building in Russia, hosts Gazprom's headquarters in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The Lakhta Centre tower, the tallest building in Russia, hosts Gazprom's headquarters in St. Petersburg, Russia. Copyright Dmitri Lovetsky/Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
Copyright Dmitri Lovetsky/Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
By Euronews
Share this articleComments
Share this articleClose Button
Copy/paste the article video embed link below:Copy to clipboardCopied

The energy giant has an exclusive monopoly to export Russian pipeline gas.

ADVERTISEMENT

Europe is on edge, following Gazprom's energy move.

The energy giant has already reduced gas flows to 12 EU countries, either partially or completely. Dwindling supplies are sending prices soaring and pushing the economy closer to a recession.

Gazprom's moves, usually justified under questionable technical considerations, has raised accusations the company is directly following the Kremlin's lead and serving as a retaliatory tool to make the EU pay the price for the sanctions imposed on Russia since the onset of the Ukraine war.

While the bloc is going to great lengths to move away from Russian fossil fuels, global markets are too tight and Gazprom's grip is still too strong.

Governments are already preparing its companies and citizens for a worst-case scenario where Russian gas vanishes overnight and rationing is introduced.

So, what makes Gazprom so powerful?

Watch the video above to find out.

Share this articleComments

You might also like

Dutch city of The Hague to ask for short EU sanctions exemption to get Russia gas deliveries

Africa's youth is a geopolitical force courted by Europe, the US, Russia, and China

Von der Leyen staffing turbulence plays into EU elections