By Kate Abnett
BRUSSELS – The European Fee printed plans on Tuesday to chop EU dependency on Russian gasoline by two-thirds this 12 months and finish its reliance on Russian provides of the gasoline “nicely earlier than 2030″.
The European Union government mentioned it might change to different provides and develop clear vitality quicker beneath the plans, which nationwide governments will likely be largely accountable for implementing.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine final month has triggered an overhaul of the 27-country EU’s vitality priorities as Brussels seeks to wrest international locations free from relying on Russia, which provides round 40% of the bloc’s pure gasoline.
“The reply to this concern for our safety lies in renewable vitality and diversification of provide,” EU local weather coverage chief Frans Timmermans mentioned.
“It’s onerous, bloody onerous. However it’s attainable.”
The brand new plans come on prime of local weather change insurance policies the EU is presently negotiating, that are designed to chop emissions quicker this decade and would alone minimize EU gasoline use 30% by 2030.
The Fee mentioned gasoline and liquefied pure gasoline from international locations like the USA and Qatar may this 12 months change greater than a 3rd, 60 billion cubic metres (bcm), of the 155 bcm Europe will get yearly from Russia. By 2030, elevated biomethane and hydrogen use may additionally assist.
New wind and photo voltaic tasks may change 20 bcm of gasoline demand this 12 months, whereas tripling capability by 2030, including 480GW of wind and 420GW of photo voltaic vitality, may save 170 bcm a 12 months.
Turning down thermostats by 1°C may save an additional 10 bcm this 12 months, whereas by 2030, changing gasoline boilers with 30 million warmth pumps may save 35 bcm, the Fee added.
Graphic: Share of EU pure gasoline imports, 2021: https://graphics.reuters.com/CLIMATE-CHANGE/znpnekdnovl/chart.png
Some international locations are searching for extra EU funding to guard shoppers from hovering gasoline costs, which hit recent highs this week.
Nations can tax vitality firms’ income from excessive gasoline costs, to offset larger electrical energy payments, the Fee mentioned. The Worldwide Vitality Company has mentioned such taxes may increase 200 billion euros ($218 billion) this 12 months.
Fuel flows to Europe have to this point been regular because the invasion, which Russia calls a “particular navy operation”.
Nevertheless, Moscow on Monday warned that Western sanctions on Russian oil – an concept supported by the USA, however which has cut up EU nations – may immediate it to shut a significant gasoline pipeline to Europe.
The EU will even suggest guidelines by April requiring EU international locations to fill gasoline storage to 90% by Oct. 1 annually. EU storage is presently 27% full.
Europe has sufficient storage and different gasoline provides for this winter, however analysts say a chronic halt to Russian imports would hit Europe’s economic system and require emergency measures resembling manufacturing unit closures.
($1 = 0.9182 euros)
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