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Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming proposed legislation in which the United States would export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Ukraine and members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This push was in response to Russian intervention in Ukraine earlier this month.
Russia’s recent aggressive international law violations have Western powers worried. Most worried are European powers that rely heavily on Russia for natural gas supplies. This has caused fear and hesitation for Europe to impose sanctions on Russia for their violations. The United States, on the other hand, has its own sufficient supplies of natural gas.
Barrasso suggests the United States should ramp up natural gas exports to Ukraine and its NATO allies in order to lessen their dependence on Russian energy and to weaken Russia’s political leverage.
“As long as Ukraine and our NATO allies are overly dependent on Russian gas, Vladimir Putin will be able to hold them and their economies hostage,” Barrasso said. “Congress should respond by giving Ukraine – as well as our NATO allies- an alternative supply of natural gas.”
“My amendments will require the Obama administration to approve applications to export LNG to countries like Ukraine and our NATO allies,” the senator continued.
A majority of senate Democrats denies the proposal’s effectiveness, claiming it would not produce any immediate effects on the situation in Ukraine. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore, said, “Calls to rubber stamp LNG exports ignore the fact that expediting approvals won’t get gas to the Ukraine any faster.”
Any approved exports of LNG are not expected to arrive to their destinations until 2015. This suggests that exporting LNG is not the most effective immediate solution to the situation in Ukraine. On top of that, Ukraine is not equipped with facilities that can change LNG into its burnable energy form.
Before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Barrasso was a part of a bipartisan coalition of senators proposing the exportation of LNG to America’s allies to give them an opportunity of energy independence from Russia while also benefiting the United States economically. Barrasso said he supports LNG exports to countries with or without a free trade agreement with the U.S. and said the bill would ultimately benefit national security.
“Increased LNG exports will create good paying jobs and open markets for Wyoming’s natural gas,” he said. “This will expand economic opportunities across America and help lower our nation’s trade deficit.
“Our bill will also promote the energy security of key U.S. allies by helping reduce their dependence on oil and gas from countries, such as Russia and Iran,” Barrasso concluded.
Barrasso now sees another opportunity for expanded exports of natural gas by tying LNG exports to America’s Ukraine aid bill. The U.S. House of Representatives passed an aid bill but disagreement in the U.S. Senate has pushed further negotiations to continue when Congress returns from recess this week.
