Germany still too dependent on Russian gas | War in Ukraine

The Album family business specializes in the creation of various petrochemical products. One of the liquids produced there is, for example, used to prevent corrosion in cars. It is found on 70% of vehicles in the European market.

To obtain the liquid that comes out of the laboratories, it is necessary to use a vapor heated to 280 degrees Celsius created with the help of gas. I need gas. I know that I indirectly pay for Russia’s war in Ukraine. But I have responsibility for 52 employees and their familieslaunches Arnold Mergell, the leader of Hobum.

The entrepreneur explains that he has been trying for several years to vary his energy sources. He is counting on hydrogen, among other things, to replace gas, but it will still take time before this transition materializes.

According to him, the dependence of his factory, like thousands of others in Germany, is notably due to the recent energy choices made by Europe’s leading economy.

” We wanted to get rid of nuclear and coal, which is good in terms of fighting climate change, but it was too soon, too fast. We are too dependent on gas, especially Russian. »

Arnold Mergell attributes the responsibility to political authorities, but also to business people who, like him, found that this resource was easy to get and affordable. We made mistakes in the past, and now we have to payhe says.

An attempt at diplomatic rapprochement

Beyond economic decisions, Berlin has made the political choice to develop its commercial ties with Russia, explains Thomas Pellerin-Carlin, director of the Energy Center of the Jacques Delors Institute.

” The Germans chose to become dependent on Russian gas in the hope that this German-Russian interdependence would bring about a change in Russian foreign policy. »

Thus, for about fifteen years, Chancellor Angela Merkel defended this rapprochement, first initiated by her predecessor Gerhard Schroder, a politician strongly criticized for having maintained close ties with Moscow. Even after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Gerhard Schroder continued to sit on the boards of Russian energy companies.

Since the start of the war, we can clearly see that this German policy has failedobserves Thomas Pellerin-Carlin.

Over the past two months, protests have been held calling on the ruling coalition to end Russian energy imports. At the continental level, a majority of members of the European Parliament also supported the idea of ​​such an embargo.

Without approving an embargo, the new chancellor, Olaf Scholz, took an important step at the end of February when he announced that he was suspending certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, a project that would have greatly increased imports of Russian gas into German territory.

Germany remains, despite everything, a major consumer of this resource. At the start of the year, half of the country’s gas imports came from Russia. Berlin authorities recently announced that this proportion has dropped to 35%.

Diversify energy sources

Germany’s foreign minister recently said her country might be able to stop importing Russian oil by the end of the year. As for gas, we will have to wait until the middle of 2024.

To free itself from the resource, Berlin has, among other things, promised to greatly increase its production of solar and wind energy over the next eight years.

Germany has also announced the financing of port terminal projects which will make it possible to import liquefied natural gas from, for example, Norway or Qatar.

One of the places chosen is the port of Brünsbuttel, about a hundred kilometers west of Hamburg.

We have been saying for years that Germany needs this infrastructureexplains the local elected official Oliver Kumbartzy, who adds that the defenders of the project have long encountered a lack of interest on the part of the federal authorities.

Chancellor Scholz finally announced Berlin’s financial participation in this terminal four days after the start of the war. The project should see the light of day by 2024 and floating terminals should appear as early as next year to start supplying.

An announcement hailed by the mayor of Brunsbüttel, Martin Schmedtje, who however would also have liked the gas terminal project to be approved much earlier.

” I personally would have preferred this decision to be taken in peacetime, rather than being taken under the pressure of the war in Ukraine. »

Mayor Schmedjte is nevertheless delighted to see Berlin begin to diversify its sources of supply, especially since, in the context, the dependence on Russia is reflected in the energy bills of its fellow citizens.

A reality that is obvious when visiting a pizzeria located a few meters from the town hall of Brunsbüttel, where almost everything, from the stove to the heating, runs on gas.

Russia is over, we no longer want to buy their gas. But what will be the price to pay?asks Ahmed, the owner.

A question which, these days, monopolizes the German political debate.