How the EU's need for gas complicates the Russia-Ukraine crisis | DW News

Fears remain high that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is imminent, setting off a wider dispute between Moscow and the West. Including, potentially, over gas.

A spokesman for the Russian government said Monday that the country would not cut-off its supplies to Europe. But Moscow's leverage in energy-politics is hard to ignore: It's the largest single deliverer of natural gas to the EU – where demand is only set to rise.

Take a look at Germany: It's still very dependent on non-renewable energy sources like fossil fuels and nuclear. They account for around 56% of the total energy mix.

Almost a third of it comes from coal, 12% is from nuclear, with natural gas bringing in 14%. That figure is set to increase in the years ahead: Germany is phasing out nuclear power later this year and coal is to be phased out by 2038. Renewables are only gradually coming on the grid.

Right now, 55% of German gas imports come from Russia. That's a higher dependence than across the EU, where the average is 40% of imports from Russia.

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[chris-]

More like: How German nuclear phase-out have made them critically reliant on Russian gas

[erlinggaratun]

Fazing out nuclear power while the reactors are still operational is not a rational policy. It was made in panic right after Fukushima. For something similar to happen in Germany would take a direct earthquake (not likely far from any fault line) or a close hit by an asteroid (in which case the power plant would be only one of many problems, and not the worst). You should, in the light of the energy crisis, reverse your decision - imo.

[williamsmith]

The numbers are old, nuclear is currently down to 6% of their energy mix, as Germany shut down half of their remaining nuclear plants at the beginning of this year, and the other half will be closed by the end of this year. And almost ALL of that nuclear capacity is being replaced with natural gas. So much for reducing CO2 emissions.

[Obi_boy]

Imagine if Germany didn't shut down its nuclear power stations

[evinco]

The EU doesn't listen. How can you depend on your biggest oppent for energy. That is stupidity

[word]

I still do not understand why we are moving away from nuclear energy.

[xSRGman]

Wow Germany, I wonder how these energy problems happened. Now, about those nuclear power stations...

[davidfarrell]

The last 2 years have shown that full dependence on globalization is bad. You are too tied to issues in other jurisdictions. Medical Supplies, Fuel, components for products you make domestically, Shipping, Supply Chain, political unrest, conflict and on an on. EU has 500m people, time to focus on EU internal supply. Develop those industries within the EU and be self sufficient.

[olexkutikov]

Are here any Europeans !?! I live in Italy and this December the price for gas increased 4 times compering with last year ! Few more moth and there will be protests all over country fot sure

[Jmpnb]

Pretty certain this was a carefully calculated lever to pull in influencing the EU’s decision making algorithms.

[antiapatic]

What Germany did these days must be studied in socio-economic boosk and history books as well.

[jimf]

Importing cheap gas requires huge infrastructure investments. Having pipelines makes it much cheaper. Importing it by ship will be super expensive. Germany decommissioning it’s nuclear reactors to appease the green protestors has put them in this situation

[lokmanmerican]

Hey Germany, Australia has lotsa gas, and not all of it from our politicians. No strings attached and of course we would never think of turning it off 😉

Update: oh, I forgot ... also plenty of Aussie uranium in case, you know, you want to retain those nuclear power stations that generate energy with no emissions. Instead of replacing them by burning gas that generate emissions.

[nightowl]

Germany really worried Russia cut off gas to Germany lol

[Starkada]

The bottom line is Russia has the power. Russia can deal with only supplying 50% gas and only receiving 50% payment but Germany could not

[simonssimons]

What's Russia has to do with EU gas prices? Did Russia refuse to honor contracts? I thought they even supplied 20% more then contracts require.
So, how is Russia at fault here?

[catholicstance]

Germany and the European Union are lost in the strategy of energy. If the European Union fails in such important matter, there's no need for the European Union.

[kairon]

ugh. it sucks that so many nations are abandoning nuclear energy. I do get it takes time and energy to build and maintain power stations but there are modern designs and stations that are better than ever.

[DRKrust]

A nation placing itself at the mercy of Russia has never ended well.

[skyhigh]

Germany always on the wrong side of history..