Financial performance of EU-27 fossil fuel companies and their counterparts after imposing energy sanctions on Russia: A comparative analysis

Abstract

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine, along with the imposition of energy sanctions on Russian energy sources, has prompted a reassessment of the global energy market. Utilizing the difference in differences model, this study investigates the financial performance disparities among fossil fuel companies operating within the EU-27 bloc, Russia, and countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Qatar, Norway, India, China, UAE, and Saudi Arabia (countries that have benefitted from exporting fossil energy to the EU-27 as an alternative to Russia) during the period spanning from 2016 to 2023. The result reveals that fossil fuel companies from the United States, the United Kingdom, Qatar, Norway, India, China, UAE, and Saudi Arabia experienced significant advantages from substituting Russia in supplying oil, natural gas, and LNG to the EU-27. This is evidenced by a notable enhancement in their financial performance compared to both Russian and EU-27-based fossil fuel companies. For fossil fuel companies, the study highlights the urgency of diversifying export and import markets, broadening partnerships for fossil fuel trading and refining, transitioning to the production of lower-emission energy forms, and enhancing sustainable development practices to mitigate risks. At the national level, the research results indicate that countries reliant on imported fossil energy, akin to most countries within the EU-27, must swiftly diversify their energy sources and focus on developing renewable energy. This strategy is crucial to avoid unexpected shocks in the energy market in the era of geopolitical conflicts and uncertainty.