dependency reduced
Germany buys far less Russian oil and gas
May 1, 2022, 5:25 p.m
Germany’s dependence on Russian energy sources is a trump card in the hands of the Kremlin. Although the federal government continues to reject a comprehensive boycott of Russia, the share of Russian supplies in Germany’s energy requirements has fallen drastically since the beginning of the war.
According to Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck, Germany is in the process of rapidly reducing its energy dependency on Russia and putting its energy supply on a broader footing. “Dependence on oil falls to twelve percent; on hard coal we are around eight percent and on gas around 35 percent,” explained Habeck on the second progress report on energy security.
Since the first progress report of March 25th, further steps have been taken. “Over the last few weeks, together with all the relevant players, we have made further intensive efforts to import less fossil fuels from Russia and to put the supply on a broader basis,” explained Habeck.
All steps required “an enormous joint effort by all actors and they also mean costs that both the economy and the consumers feel,” said the minister. “But they are necessary if we no longer want to be open to blackmail by Russia.”
All of these steps must always be thought of in connection with more speed in the expansion of renewable energies and more progress in energy saving. “An accelerated energy transition is the be-all and end-all for a cheap, independent and secure energy supply of the future,” says Habeck.
“National effort necessary”
Since the first report, there has been progress in reducing dependence on Russian energy imports, especially in oil and coal. Due to contract changes, hard coal imports from Russia have already fallen from 50 percent to around eight percent since the beginning of the year.
In the case of oil, the mineral oil industry has taken further steps in close cooperation with the ministry in recent weeks to end the supply relationship with Russia. “Contracts are not being extended and are expiring, so that in some cases larger shares of Russian oil have already been substituted.” In recent years, Germany has obtained more than a third of its oil from Russia.
According to the ministry, further progress has also been made in the conversion of the gas supply, “but the process remains demanding”. Here, the share of Russian gas deliveries fell from more than 50 percent in previous years to around 35 percent by mid-April. On the other hand, natural gas purchases from Norway and the Netherlands have increased and liquid gas imports have increased significantly.
Independence from Russian gas can only be achieved “through a national effort,” according to the ministry. Many simultaneous steps by many actors are necessary – federal, state, local authorities, companies and private households. In close cooperation with the affected federal states, the federal government is working flat out to put several floating liquid gas terminals into operation in Germany as early as 2022 and 2023.