The gas emergency in Europe does not end. If the situation for next winter is manageable thanks to the stocks filled in the last few months, there will be a different situation from next summer when the tanks need to be refilled. Our continents will struggle to find the energy they need, and a total of 30 billion cubic meters of gas will be missing. “The next bottling season – at the end of this winter – will be even more demanding. We will face 3 main obstacles – said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in her speech to the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels – First, Russia could decide to completely stop its gas supplies to Europe. Second, global LNG capacity will not grow fast enough to fill this gap. And third, growth in Asia could absorb most of that additional LNG. Because of these factors, Europe may not have about 30 billion cubic meters of gas to fill our depots next summer. We are now preparing for these risks and are thus setting the course for the future. Because our choices today will determine whether we have the energy we need for 2023 and beyond. But we must act now.”
“By strengthening RepowerEu’s financial clout, we will ensure that all Member States have the opportunity to make the necessary investments” to “reduce energy demand and increase renewable energy production”. This was stated by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in her speech to the European Parliament. An increase in Repower’s budget, von der Leyen added, “would give every member state an equal opportunity to prepare for the future, while also giving some fiscal space to support vulnerable businesses and families.” makes sense against the backdrop of an intensification of the global race for clean technologies,” concluded the President.