A unified Europe is essential to its energy security, forum told

Brenda Shaffer in Oil & Gas Journal

The US and Europe’s general and energy security are intertwined, a second speaker suggested. “The Southern Gas Corridor probably wouldn’t have happened without US support,” said Brenda Shaffer…

US exit from Iran deal sparks oil shortage fears in Asia

Brenda Shaffer in Nikkei Asian Review

Global economic growth has led to increased demand for oil, while production in several major countries, such as Venezuela, has significantly declined, said Prof. Brenda Shaffer, Center for Eurasian, Russian and Eastern European Studies at Georgetown University. She added that the latest U.S. data signal that the economy is growing at a healthy clip, "and with that goes the demand for oil."

"A vastly tightened global oil market that now has little excess in supply," she said. 

Russian pipe dream hits raw European nerve

Brenda Shaffer in Deutsche Welle

Professor Brenda Shaffer, a Russia expert at Georgetown University, told DW the pipeline is needed for three main reasons.

"One, it means cleaner energy for Germany. Berlin talks the talk, but doesn't walk the walk on emissions. Without more gas in its energy mix, Germany will remain over-dependent on coal, especially after the next round of closure of nuclear plants. Two, for Germany, the relationship with Russia is extremely important and gas trade is seen as a positive component in their cooperation. And three, transiting gas all the way down to Ukraine and back up to Germany is set to become way more expensive after Russia starts producing in the Arctic north," she said.

Volatility in Oil Market to Come from Iran Deal Withdrawal

Brenda Shaffer on Bloomberg TV

Georgetown University Adjunct Professor Brenda Shaffer discusses President Donald Trump's decision to leave the Iran nuclear deal. She speaks on "Bloomberg Markets."

Trump’s action heightens risks for global oil prices

Press Herald

“Saudi Arabia will probably rev up production and exports,” said Brenda Shaffer, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center.

“I think we’re going to have a lot of volatility,” said Brenda Shaffer, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center. “It’s going to be a roller coaster in coming months.”

Trump's renewed economic sanctions on Iran heightens risks for global oil prices and U.S. consumer spending

LA Times

"Saudi Arabia will probably rev up production and exports," said Brenda Shaffer, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global Energy Center."...I think we're going to have a lot of volatility," said Shaffer, of the Atlantic Council. "It's going to be a roller coaster in coming months."

Oil surges but President Trump' Iran deal announcement looms

CNBC

Jeff Kilburg of KKM Financial and Brenda Shaffer of Atlantic Council discuss the rise in the price of oil how President Trump's announcement on the Iran deal may effect the price which crossed $70. a barrel for the first time since 2014.

How a proposed Russian pipeline to Europe is dividing the West

The Washington Post

Brenda Shaffer, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said there are legitimate reasons to support the pipeline, including Europe’s need to reduce emissions by substituting gas for dirtier fuels such as coal. But those arguments tend to get drowned out by geopolitics. 

“It’s become a litmus test for everything you think about Russia,” Shaffer said. “If you support it, then you’re not tough enough.”

High oil price not the albatross it once was for US economy

The Hill - Opinion

The global oil price is trading at its highest price in more than four years, and it seems that a number of additional price spikes are on the way, as instability and conflict affect several major oil producers.

Is Germany Souring on Russia's Nord Stream?

Foreign Policy

“Since even with Nord Stream 2, transit through Ukraine of some Russian gas into Europe will continue, the statement is just a polite acknowledgement of that fact,” says Brenda Shaffer, an energy expert at Georgetown University’s Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies. (She’s argued that Nord Stream isn’t the threat that many in Europe and the United States make it out to be.)

“Merkel has made some major decisions on a whim, such as closing Germany’s nuclear power plants and inviting a large refugee flow, so this could signify a new policy,” Shaffer says.

The Geopolitics of Energy in the 21st Century, Johns Hopkins SAIS

Bologna Institute for Policy Research, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies

Nord Stream 2: What the US and Europe Can and Should Do, Atlantic Council

Panel I: View from the US

Dr. Agnia Grigas Senior Fellow, Eurasia Center Atlantic Council

Mr. Douglas Hengel Senior Fellow; Professional Lecturer, Energy, Resources, and Environment Program, School of Advanced International Studies German Marshall Fund of the United States; Johns Hopkins University

Ms. Sandra Oudkirk Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Diplomacy, Bureau of Energy Resources US Department of State

Dr. Brenda Shaffer Senior Fellow, Global Energy Center Atlantic Council

Moderated by: Ambassador Richard Morningstar (Ret.) Founding Director and Chairman, Global Energy Center Atlantic Council

US, Israel must grow closer to tear the Iranian regime apart

The Hill

Regarding the barely green status of the Greens, Brenda Shaffer wrote in The Hill last year:

“In political systems where ethnic-based politics are severely limited, or even prohibited, populist activity around environmental causes is often tolerated by ruling regimes. They are likely to view it as a social movement and not necessarily anti-regime.Recognizing this, ethnic nationalist movements have found that there are many advantages in revolving their efforts around environmental political campaigns.”

Russians used social media to stir divisions on U.S. energy policy: lawmakers

Reuters

A specialist on energy and foreign policy said the postings likely had little influence on U.S. energy markets.

“It’s almost impossible to change U.S. energy policy through a social media campaign,” said Brenda Shaffer, a professor at Georgetown University, “a campaign would have to affect both the state and federal levels to be effective.”

Putin’s Newest Ally Supports Russia’s Move to Dominate Europe’s Energy Market

Newsweek

"[Kurz’s visit] amplifies the split. You have Poland, Denmark and the U.S. on one side and Germany on the other," Brenda Shaffer, an energy analyst at Georgetown University, told Newsweek. "It’s become a divisive issue in Europe, which gives Russia more leverage."

$15 Billion Worth of Israeli Natural Gas to be Sold to Egypt

The Jewish Post

Some observers questioned the immediate viability of the plan. “There’s not even a route determined, so it’s hard to sign a binding agreement,” said Brenda Shaffer, an American-Israeli professor at Georgetown University in Washington who has previously advised the Israeli government on energy policy. “Either EMG would need to agree to transit the gas – and that’s to resolve the whole arbitration process... For years, the Egyptians said they wouldn’t buy Israeli gas until the arbitration is dropped.”

The second option would be to ship the fuel through the existing Pan Arabian pipeline via Jordan. “If the gas is sent through Jordan, then Jordan has to agree and to establish reverse flow,” Shaffer said. “It’s still somewhat complicated.”

What’s Good for Russian Gas Is Good for America

Foreign Policy - Opinion

The Donald Trump administration has emphasized its separation from its predecessors in energy policy, but at least one aspect has been entirely continuous: its ardent opposition to the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany. The Barack Obama administration...