Germany has no more need for Russian gas

Germany has solved its energy crisis and is ready for the coming winter, German Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habeck said in comments quoted by Bild newspaper on September 19.

"There is no more gas shortage," Habeck said during a meeting with residents in the city of Osnabruck in Lower Saxony, adding that Germany no longer had any need for Russian gas.

Russian gas supplies to Europe have begun to tighten since Moscow launched a "special military operation" in Ukraine, leading to a series of sanctions from the European Union (EU) and the United States.

German Vice Chancellor and Minister of Economy Robert Habeck. Photo: Al Jazeera

Russia's state energy giant Gazprom "turned off the tap" on direct gas supplies via the Nord Stream pipeline from Russia across the Baltic Sea to Germany in 2022, and shortly afterwards the pipeline was shut down indefinitely due to damage from sabotage explosions.

In 2023, Germany signed a deal with Norway, Europe's largest gas producer, that will increase Norway's share of supplies to 60%, the same amount Russia used to supply.

Germany's natural gas storage facilities are full and all targets have been met, Vice Chancellor Habeck said, but the Greens politician also said gas prices in Germany are higher than they were before the conflict in Ukraine.

“Prices are higher; this also applies to gas, but not because we have a shortage of supply,” the German vice chancellor said, adding that the real reason is that Asian countries are buying liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Mr Habeck expressed confidence that gas prices would fall again as more LNG volumes were released and brought into the German market. Overall, gas prices in Germany would only be “slightly higher than in the years before the pandemic”, he said.

Ukraine currently ships Russian gas to the EU under a deal signed in 2019 that is set to expire in December. The EU and Ukraine are in talks with Azerbaijan about replacing Russia as a supplier.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on September 6 that negotiations are underway with the EU, Moscow and Kiev to transport Azerbaijani gas to European customers after Ukraine stopped transiting Russian gas.

For gas supplies from Azerbaijan to reach Ukraine, they will first have to flow through infrastructure in southern Russia.

"Russia, Ukraine and European organizations have approached us regarding the continuation of gas transit through Ukrainian territory," Mr Aliyev said. "For many months, we have been working hard to come to a common denominator."

Minh Duc (According to Kyiv Independent)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/duc-khong-con-nhu-cau-nao-doi-voi-khi-dot-nga-nua-204240921144054379.htm