BRUSSELS (Realist English). The EU continues to reduce its dependence on Russian gas. This was stated by European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson in an interview with UNIAN.
“Flows from Russia have sharply decreased. Last year we received 41% of pipeline gas from Russia. Currently, this share has decreased to 9%. We have managed to overcome this impact by providing alternative supplies and reducing demand, and we will continue to do this, as well as increase our renewable energy production. We must completely abandon Russian gas as soon as possible, as we decided to do with Russian coal, crude oil and petroleum products,” Simson said.
The European Commission has indeed proposed a number of measures to combat unreasonably high energy prices, including the price of gas, which is still the object of manipulation by Russia, the European Commissioner explained.
According to Simson, among other tools, the European Commission is ready to develop a dynamic gas price restriction for a virtual TTF outlet, if it receives an appropriate mandate from the EU Council. The discussion of this issue will take place at a meeting of energy ministers to be held on November 24.
Simson claims that the steps already taken by the EU to overcome the crisis, as the reduction in gas demand by 15% and filling storage facilities by more than 90%, are working, and gas prices have been steadily declining since August.
