Ukrainian War, the Dutch depend on Moscow for about 15% of gas supplies, compared to an average of 40% in the EU
While the Russia gradually reduces i gas flows to EuropeL’Holland announces the lifting of restrictions on the electricity generation from coal. And it does so less than 24 hours after the decision by Germany and Austria to use more fuel.
The Dutch carbon power plantsand can now “operate at full capacity instead of the maximum of 35%”, in effect since January 2022 in the country in order to reduce CO2 emissions, announced Dutch Minister of Environment and Energy, Rob Jetten. The Dutch decision, “prepared with European colleagues,” explained Jetten, comes the day after similar announcements in Germany and Austria to use more coal to offset the drop in Russian gas deliveries.
The German government he reported on Sunday that it will use so-called “back-up” coal plants, currently deemed ‘last resort’, to ensure the country’s energy security as Moscow continues to cut gas flows to Europe. This means, concretely, that some plants will remain operational longer than foreseen in the German energy transition plan.
The extension of some power plants will be “a short-term measure”, for a “limited” period until March 2024, he was keen to specify Berlin. “The exit from coal in 2030 does not falter at all”, the spokesman for the German Ministry of Economy and Climate assured today. Stephan Gabriel Haufe. And he made it clear that this deadline remains “more important than ever”.
Also Austria, also dependent on Russian gas, on Sunday announced the next restart of a disused coal plant in order to make up for a possible shortage. Against the backdrop of a stalemate between Western countries and Moscow in the context of the war in Ukraine, the giant Gazprom has already stopped deliveries to numerous European countries, including Poland, Bulgaria, Finland and the Netherlands.
Last week Gazprom announced cuts in gas delivery through the Nord Stream pipeline. Russia is now expected to shut down the taps even more in the coming months. For Germany, the situation is “serious”, given that it continues to import 35% of its gas from Russia – against 55% before the war – even if the country’s supply remains guaranteed for the moment, according to the Minister of Economy Robert Habeck.
The Dutch depend on Moscow for about 15% of gas supplies, compared to an average of 40% in the EU. “I would like to underline that at the moment there is no serious shortage of gas”, in the Netherlands, insisted Rob Jetten. “However, more countries are now under pressure – he explained – and this worries us”.
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