The European Union (EU) announced new proposals on Tuesday, saying the bloc would reduce its dependence on Russian gas as the bloc reacts to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
“We can not rely on a supplier who ‘explicitly threatens’ the EU,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement.
The European Commission has announced plans to reduce the bloc’s dependence on Russian gas by two-thirds this year and end its dependence on Russian fuel supplies “long before 2030,” said Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans. The EU had to “break the renewables with lightning speed”.
EU: Putin’s war in Ukraine accelerates process
“Putin’s war in Ukraine demonstrates the urgent need to accelerate our transition to clean energy,” Timmermans added.
The EU executive has said it will do so by switching to alternative procurement and expanding clean energy more quickly under the proposals, which will largely be the responsibility of Member States to implement.
The official said that gas and liquefied natural gas from countries such as the United States and Qatar could replace more than a third of Europe’s annual gas supply from Russia this year. And by 2030, increased use of biomethane and hydrogen could also help.
New wind and solar projects could replace part of the gas demand this year, while capacity will be tripled by 2030.
“By the end of this year, we can replace 100 billion cubic meters of gas imports from Russia. That is two-thirds of what we import from them,” Timmermans told reporters in Strasbourg. “This will put an end to our excessive dependence and give us the much-needed room for maneuver.”
Russia’s invasion of its neighbor has given rise to a sense of urgency in this EU effort, not only because Russian gas reaches the bloc via Ukraine, but also because of fears that the Kremlin could cut off supplies.
EU aims to be independent of Russian gas “within years”
In 2019, Russian gas accounted for 41% of the bloc’s imports. Timmermans, who also leads the EU Green Pact, told the European Parliament on Monday afternoon that the proposals, which have been widely revised in the days since President Vladimir Putin sent Russian troops to Ukraine, could make EU independent of Russian gas “within years.”
The EU is looking for new energy sources, especially liquefied natural gas (LNG). According to the DPA news agency, talks between the EU and major LNG buyers such as Japan, South Korea, China and India have already begun, seeking to divert surplus supplies to Europe by sea.
Russia threatens to cut supply to Europe
On the eve of the European Commission’s announcement on Tuesday, Russian Vice President Alexander Novak countered EU efforts to contain Moscow, saying he had “full right” to impose an embargo on gas supplies via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline in response to Germany’s decision to stop Nord Stream 2.
Novak said the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which carries Russian gas to Germany via the Baltic Sea, was “being used at most 100%.” Novak also warned that a ban on Russian energy imports would have “catastrophic” consequences for Europe. .
“No one will benefit from this,” Novak told Russian state television. “Although European politicians are pushing us to this with their statements and accusations against Russia.”
German Chancellor Olaf Solz said that although Berlin had backed tough measures against Moscow, Russian energy supplies remained “essential” to everyday life in Europe.
“Europe’s energy supply for heating, mobility, electricity and industry can not be secured otherwise at this time,” Scholz said in a statement.
Russia is Germany’s largest gas supplier, currently accounting for 38% of imports, according to government statistics. Natural gas accounts for about one-fifth of German energy production.
All the options for sanctions are on the table, says the Dutch Foreign Minister
On Tuesday morning, Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra told reporters that more sanctions were possible.
“No measure is out of bounds for the Netherlands, including energy,” Hoekstra said.
“It is extremely important that we take into account the position of all our European allies, some of whom are much more dependent on oil and gas than the Netherlands. Others should also be able to bear the burden,” he added.
The Kremlin has warned that oil prices could soar if the West tightens economic sanctions on Russia by banning energy imports.
jsi / rt (dpa, Reuters)
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