Strasbourg, March 8, (dpa/GNA) – The European Commission aims to free EU countries from their dependency on Russian energy sources before 2030 in new plans published on Tuesday amid severe tensions after Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine.
A supplier that “explicitly threatens” the European Union cannot be relied on, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a press release.
The plans call to accelerate the EU’s expansion of renewable energy sources, replace Russian gas with new suppliers, especially of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and reduce energy consumption in the bloc. The commission said the measures can reduce EU demand for Russian gas by two thirds before the end of 2022.
“Putin’s war in Ukraine demonstrates the urgency of accelerating our clean energy transition,” said European Commission vice president in charge of environment Frans Timmermans in a press release.
The conflict in Ukraine and the sanctions subsequently imposed on Russia have injected urgency into this endeavour, not only because Russian gas reaches the bloc via Ukrainian territory, but also due to fears that Russia could cut off supplies, which means alternatives must be found.
Russia openly threatened to halt gas supplies to Europe for the first time since the invasion, in comments by deputy prime minister Alexander Novak, to state television on Monday.
The EU is heavily reliant on Russian fossil fuels. Some 90% of the gas used in the EU is imported, according to the commission, with Russia providing 45% of those imports at various levels to EU member states in 2021.
The EU executive arm said Russia also accounts for nearly 25% of oil imports and 45% of coal imports.
A growing number of voices is calling for a complete embargo on Russian energy imports, to gain leverage over the Kremlin to end the attack on Ukraine.
The United States is currently debating an embargo on Russian energy imports, while the Italian government wants to replace Russian gas, anticipating supply difficulties amid the hostilities.
“We import about 29 billion cubic metres of gas from Russia every year. That is a little more than 40% of our gas imports. That will be replaced,” Italian Minister for Ecological Restructuring Roberto Cingolani told public broadcaster Rai3.
Bulgaria, heavily dependent on Moscow for energy supply, however, ruled out an embargo. “Things we cannot afford to do is to stop importing oil and gas,” Prime Minister Kiril Petkov told journalists on Tuesday.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday also pushed back against calls to ban Russian energy imports.
“The supply of energy to Europe, for heat generation, for transport, for electricity and for the industry cannot be secured at the moment in any other way,” Scholz said.
Under the commission’s plans, EU gas storage facilities are to be filled to at least 90% capacity by October every year before the start of the cold season, up from 80% capacity in an earlier draft seen by dpa.
The EU executive plans legislation in April to make this measure obligatory. A commission spokesperson said facilities were currently at less than 30% capacity on average.
In the search for new sources of gas, the focus is on suppliers of LNG from the US and Qatar. Azerbaijan, Algeria, Norway are also identified as suppliers in the commission’s plans.
Talks are underway with major LNG buyers including Japan, South Korea, China and India, to divert surplus supplies to Europe by sea route as a medium-term solution, according to the commission.
The plan also includes a “renewable energy pact” to reduce the use of gas and boost the expansion of solar, wind and hydropower. Approval procedures for renewable power projects are to be accelerated and new investors sought, the commission said.
Even if Russian gas continues to flow, energy prices are likely to remain elevated this year, and the commission is calling on member states to protect consumers and companies with measures such as a limited regulation of prices and targeted financial support.
GNA