Austria says it can’t embargo Russian gas

“Austria is 80% dependent on Russian gas. It is heartbreaking to say that a gas embargo is currently impossible for us, as well as for some other countries. The nature of the sanctions is that for us to outlast Russian President Vladimir Putin, and we can’t do it without gas,” Austrian Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler told reporters. Die Presse, famous newspaper of this country over the weekend.

The EU earlier this month announced its intention to stop importing gas from Russia by 2027, after Russia demanded that “unfriendly countries” pay for gas contracts in rubles. Austria also activated an “early emergency mechanism” to manage gas supplies, in order to reduce dependence on Russia.

However, according to Ms. Gewessler, it is unlikely that Europe will stop buying Russian gas by the end of 2027.

“That doesn’t happen overnight and to be honest, setting a 2027 deadline is very ambitious. Any phase-out plan has three pillars: first, reducing or completely eliminating gas consumption. , such as replacing gas heating by switching to green electricity Second, increasing domestic production, ie expanding hydrogen and biogas production Third, finding new supplying countries “, she explained, noting that all these measures take time.

Gewessler stressed that Austria’s current energy-related problems are “the result of policies over the past 15 years” when the country has taken too few steps to reduce its dependence on Russian energy. She said that every step taken to eliminate Russian gas imports was a priority for Austria and the EU, but acknowledged it would be difficult to completely cut off supplies from Russia.

“In the event of a gas shortage, we’ll have to suffer not only from a drop in room temperature, but also a decline in production, unemployment and poverty. So that’s a situation we can’t hold out for. as long as Mr. Putin,” she said.

However, according to Gewessler, officials still have to find ways to stop depending on Russian gas. Austria has already imported some gas shipments from Norway and could expand its supply chain further. However, the minister did not say how much Russian gas suppliers could replace in the short term.

The United States in early March decided to ban Russian oil and gas imports in response to Moscow’s opening of a special military operation in Ukraine, but the EU refused to impose a similar measure due to concerns about economic and production impacts. export. Russia is supplying 40% of Europe’s gas needs, of which Germany, Italy and many Central European countries depend heavily on this supply. About 25% of the oil supply to Europe also comes from Russia.

Huyen Le (According to Die Presse)