The European Union can cut its imports of Russian natural gas by more than a third within a year. This is according to a study by the International Energy Agency (IEA).
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The IEA has developed a ten-point plan to rapidly reduce dependence on Russian gas supplies. That is certainly possible with a third, according to the calculations.
No concessions need to be made on the Green Deal, the European Commission’s plan to reduce CO2completely neutralize emissions by 2050, the IEA adds. The EU could become even less dependent on Russian gas — minus 50 percent by next winter — but that would require more coal and oil, IEA chief executive Fatih Birol said.
Now that it has become clear that Russia is using natural gas exports as an economic and political weapon, it is urgent to become less dependent on Russian gas, Birol believes. ‘To be ready for the great uncertainty about Russian gas supplies next winter.’
Birol unveiled the plan during a virtual press conference, which was also attended by the European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, and the French Minister of Ecological Transition, Barbara Pompili. France currently holds the presidency of the European Union.
• Can Europe do without Russian gas?
The ten-point plan also calls for Europe to turn to other suppliers, including the United States, to tap into other energy sources and to step up efforts to provide consumers, businesses and industry with the means to use clean and efficient alternatives to natural gas. It is out of the question to conclude new gas contracts with Russia.
European Commissioner Simson announced that the Commission will make a proposal next week to make Europe independent of Russian gas as soon as possible. “The IEA’s analysis outlines some concrete steps we can take to achieve that goal,” she said.
In recent decades, Europe has become heavily dependent on the supply of Russian gas to ensure Europe’s energy supply. In 2021, the European Union imported 155 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Russia, accounting for about 45 percent of the European Union’s gas imports and nearly 40 percent of its total gas consumption.
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