PARIS (Realist English). In 2021, EU countries imported 155 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Russia, which is almost half (45%) of their gas imports and almost 40% of the total gas consumed. This data is provided by CNBC with reference to the report of the International Energy Agency (IEA).
The IEA has put together a plan that should help the region reduce its dependence on hydrocarbons from the Russian Federation by a third in one year, while remaining within the framework of the European “Green Deal”. “A 10-Point Plan to Reduce the European Union’s Reliance on Russian Natural Gas,” is a collection of actions designed to diversify Europe’s energy supply, accelerate its move toward renewables and focus on energy efficiency.
“Nobody is under any illusions anymore. Russia’s use of its natural gas resources as an economic and political weapon show Europe needs to act quickly to be ready to face considerable uncertainty over Russian gas supplies next winter,” IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said.
The plan includes not renewing expired contracts, ramping up renewable sources, keeping open existing nuclear power plants and asking the public to turn down the heat inside buildings.
Here are some of the announced points:
- Do not renew gas supply contracts with Russia.
- Replace expired contracts from Russia with those from other sources.
- Store more gas.
- Accelerate deployment of renewable energy, like wind and solar.
- Keep existing nuclear open and operate bioenergy plants at full scale.
- Protect vulnerable customers.
- Accelerate the replacement of gas boilers with heat pumps.
- Accelerate energy efficiency programs for buildings and industrial facilities.
- Ask the public to turn down their heating.