European Reliance on Soviet Gas Exports: The Yamburg-Urengoi Natural Gas Project

Editor's Note: The proposal to construct a giant pipeline to transmit natural gas from the Soviet Union to Western Europe has received wide attention on both sides of the Atlantic. Its implications extend into all aspects of East-West relations, including security and economic effects on both the Soviet Union and the gas-importing countries. This article focuses on one main area of concern raised by the pipeline, dependence by Western Europe on Soviet gas. Given the controversial nature of the subject, we are especially interested in comments from our readers.