The war in Ukraine continues to turn the energy world on its head. This Saturday, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said that Germany plans to do without Russian coal by autumn, and almost by the end of the year – without Russian oil.
“Every day, even every hour, we say goodbye to Russian imports a little more,” the environment minister told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper. “If we achieve this, then by autumn we will be independent of Russian coal, and by the end of the year we will be almost independent of Russian oil,” he added.
More complex measures for gas
On the other hand, with regard to gas, the refusal of imports from Russia is more difficult, since Germany does not have its own capacity to import liquefied gas, even if, according to the minister, the country is now working on it.
Germany currently imports a third of its oil and about 45% of its coal from Russia, according to German government statistics. The share of Russian natural gas supplies, on the contrary, in 2020 amounted to just over 50%. Germany’s energy dependence on Russia has dropped from 36% of total gas imports in 2014 to 55% today. Therefore, the leaders of Europe’s largest economy refrain from demanding the West, led by the United States, impose an embargo on Russian oil and gas, which are critical to their own energy needs.
Still against the embargo
Robert Habek reiterated his opposition to an immediate embargo on energy imports from Russia, as required by some countries in Eastern Europe. According to him, this will lead to difficulties with supplies for next winter, an economic crisis, high inflation, as well as the loss of thousands of jobs and a sharp increase in energy prices.
“High energy prices are already a significant burden for households, especially for low-income people. And also for the economy as a whole, because production is becoming more and more expensive,” the German minister added.