Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki again accused Russia of rising energy prices. At the same time, the minister named another reason for the rise in prices – speculation with quotas on carbon dioxide emissions. As you know, gas prices in Europe have risen sharply in recent months. And if at the beginning of August the price of the nearest futures was about $515 per thousand cubic meters, then at the beginning of October it exceeded the mark of $1900, reaching a historical record. Today the cost of gas hovers around $1200. Poland is confident that the rise in prices was caused by «the policy of economic and gas blackmail carried out by Gazprom and Russia.» And with the launch of Nord Stream 2, the situation will inevitably worsen, the minister said. The second reason, according to Morawiecki, is speculation in the trading of carbon dioxide emissions quotas. The Prime Minister notes that these speculations lead to the fact that quotas for one ton of emission cost more than 60%. And this growth dramatically affects the rise in energy prices throughout Europe by several times. Moscow, in response to the accusations, said that Western politicians simply miscalculated when switching to alternative energy sources: they hoped for wind power generation, but there was no wind for several months. Gazprom also disagreed with the accusations, noting that it supplies gas to Europe in full compliance with contractual obligations.
