Energy security for Russia and the world

ENERGY SECURITY FOR RUSSIA AND THE WORLD

MOSCOW, March 20, 2006 - The national public opinion research center VTsIOM has surveyed Russians’ views of threats to environmental security and the most efficient measures of dealing with them.

The policy of priority development of the power industry, proclaimed by President Vladimir Putin, corresponds to our national interests because it will ensure Russia a befitting place in the world, said 49% of the respondents. But 28% disagree, saying that this policy will strengthen Russia’s dependence on the global market of energy resources and its economic lag. Optimists constitute the majority in all sex, age, education, income and settlement-type groups of respondents.

The main threats to energy security are the growing prices of oil, gas and other energy resources (40% of the respondents), the possible depletion of oil and gas reserves (33%) and terrorist attacks against gas-and-oil pipelines (26%). Other threats include the hazardous emissions of oil-and-gas combustion materials and environmental pollution in production areas (23% and 22%, respectively), as well as potential radioactive contamination as a result of accidents at nuclear power plants (20%). Lesser threats are political and economic pressure and growing energy consumption (15% and 14%, respectively).

Only 4% of the respondents said Russia’s energy security was fully guaranteed, 34% said it was guaranteed relatively well and 46% say the country’s energy security is vulnerable.

To strengthen Russia’s role in ensuring global energy security, it should maintain stable energy prices (43%), draft an energy saving program (28%) and promote nuclear and hydropower engineering and alternative sources of energy (25%). Other popular measures are precluding the advance of foreign capital into oil and gas production, the nationalization of oil and gas production, the reduction of energy exports and the use of energy primarily for domestic consumption (19-21%).

The national public opinion research center VTsIOM polled 1,599 people in 153 cities and towns in 46 regions, territories and republics of Russia on March 11 and 12, 2006, with statistical error of about 3.4%.

Do you think the policy of priority development of the power industry meets Russia’s national interests?

Yes, it ensures Russia a befitting place in the world	49%
No, it will strengthen Russia’s dependence on the global energy market and its economic lag	28%
No answer	23%

What are the main threats to energy security? (Up to three answers)
The growing prices of oil, gas and other energy resources
40%
The possible depletion of oil and gas reserves
   33%
Terrorist attacks at gas and oil pipelines and storage facilities
26%
Hazardous emissions of oil and gas combustion materials
   23%
Environmental pollution in oil and gas production areas
   22%
Potential radioactive contamination as a result of accidents at nuclear power plants
   20%
The political and economic pressure by energy producing countries on consumers
15%
Growth of energy consumption in Europe, the U.S. and China
14%
Other threats
    1%
No answer
12%

What are the most effective measures of ensuring energy security? (Up to three answers)
Control of the operation of energy monopolies
   49%
Development of alternative sources of energy (hydrogen, wind, tides, etc.)
    34%
Establishment of energy prices suiting both producers and consumers
    30%
Prevention of terrorist attacks against energy facilities, better work by security-related structures
    24%
Discovery and development of new oil-and-gas fields
    14%
Development of nuclear power engineering
    10%
Coordination of Russia’s efforts with leading western countries
     9%
Acceleration of oil and gas production
    7%
Construction of new oil-and-gas pipelines
      7%
Construction of new oil-and-gas processing facilities
      7%
Others
    1%
No answer
  12%

What should Russia do to strengthen its role in ensuring global energy security? (Up to three answers)
Maintain stable energy prices
    43%
Draft energy saving programs
    28%
Promote nuclear and hydropower engineering and develop alternative energy sources
    25%
Preclude the advance of foreign capital into oil-and-gas production
    21%
Reduce energy export, use energy primarily for domestic consumption
    19%
Nationalize oil and gas production
    19%
Promote and maintain the energy infrastructure (pipelines, electricity lines, etc.)
    15%
Increase the production and export of energy resources
    11%
Improve oil and gas processing
    11%
Others
      1%
No answer
    15%

The growing prices of oil, gas and other energy resources	40%
The possible depletion of oil and gas reserves	33%
Terrorist attacks at gas and oil pipelines and storage facilities	26%
Hazardous emissions of oil and gas combustion materials	23%
Environmental pollution in oil and gas production areas	22%
Potential radioactive contamination as a result of accidents at nuclear power plants	20%
The political and economic pressure by energy producing countries on consumers	15%
Growth of energy consumption in Europe, the U.S. and China	14%
Other threats	1%
No answer	12%

Control of the operation of energy monopolies	49%
Development of alternative sources of energy (hydrogen, wind, tides, etc.)	34%
Establishment of energy prices suiting both producers and consumers	30%
Prevention of terrorist attacks against energy facilities, better work by security-related structures	24%
Discovery and development of new oil-and-gas fields	14%
Development of nuclear power engineering	10%
Coordination of Russia’s efforts with leading western countries	9%
Acceleration of oil and gas production	7%
Construction of new oil-and-gas pipelines	7%
Construction of new oil-and-gas processing facilities	7%
Others	1%
No answer	12%

Maintain stable energy prices	43%
Draft energy saving programs	28%
Promote nuclear and hydropower engineering and develop alternative energy sources	25%
Preclude the advance of foreign capital into oil-and-gas production	21%
Reduce energy export, use energy primarily for domestic consumption	19%
Nationalize oil and gas production	19%
Promote and maintain the energy infrastructure (pipelines, electricity lines, etc.)	15%
Increase the production and export of energy resources	11%
Improve oil and gas processing	11%
Others	1%
No answer	15%