Energy costs soar in 2021, fuelled by political unrest

The “steep rise in prices was probably the most dramatic development on the commodities markets in 2021”, noted Commerzbank analyst Barbara Lambrecht.

The most spectacular surge was that of Europe’s reference gas price, Dutch TTF, which hit 187.78 euros per megawatt hour in December — 10 times higher compared with the start of the year.

Western countries accuse Russia of limiting gas deliveries to put pressure on Europe amid tensions over the Ukraine conflict and to push through the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline set to ship Russian gas to Germany.

Critics say Nord Stream 2 will increase Europe’s dependence on Russian gas and Ukraine has described it as a “geopolitical weapon”.

Russian energy giant Gazprom has strongly rejected Western accusations that Moscow is limiting gas deliveries to Europe, already hit by low stocks as economies reopen from pandemic lockdowns.

Reliance on gas increased as calmer weather has reduced the availability of wind power.

OPEC oil impact

Crude oil prices rocketed also in 2021, gaining more than 50 percent as demand recovered and oil producing nations led by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia modestly boosted supplies.

It came after OPEC+ drastically slashed output in 2020 as the pandemic began to unfold, and virus-related restrictions caused demand and prices to crash.

Although crude prices have shot back up, trading above $75 per barrel heading into the new year, the jump “seems almost moderate by comparison” with gas, noted Lambrecht.

U.S. oil benchmark contract, West Texas Intermediate, reached a seven-year peak at $85 per barrel in October, before easing.

Chain reaction

Soaring gas and oil prices have pushed up the cost of coal, one of the most polluting fossil fuels, at a time when countries are under pressure to increasingly switch to cleaner energy sources.

A tonne of coal for delivery to the ports of Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp struck $280 at the start of October, nearly three times the price that had lasted for around a decade.

This helped to push up European carbon prices, which reached above 90 euros per tonne for the first time in December, around three times the level at the start of the year.

Carbon trading, while seen as a key way to prevent climate change, involves companies buying the right to pollute from others who have a lower carbon footprint.

Electricity prices have also surged. Electricity for delivery in France next year rose above 450 euros per megawatt hour in December, four times more than in early September.

The surge in energy prices is fuelling high inflation worries as soaring costs badly affect businesses and consumers globally.