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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% |
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