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EU reduces gas imports from Russia, plans reduced consumption

Thursday, 28 July 2022 4:37 PM [ Last Update: Thursday, 28 July 2022 6:04 PM ]

(FILES) In this file photo taken on June 10, 2022 an employee of Uniper Energy Storage walks through the above-ground facilities of a natural gas storage facility at the Uniper Energy Storage facility in Bierwang, southern Germany. The German state will take 30% of the capital of the energy giant Uniper, threatened with bankruptcy by the declines in the delivery of Russian gas, as part of a vast rescue plan, the group announced on July 22, 2022. (Photo by LENNART PREISS / AFP)

Up to a quarter of the EU's electricity demand is generated using gas while in some of the blocks member states it is higher. As less of it arrives from Russia, EU nations have agreed to reduce gas consumption by 15% until spring.

I think at the end everybody understands that this sacrifice is necessary. We have to, and we will, share the pain.

Jozef Sikels, Czech Republic Deputy Prime Minister

Concern mounts over EU gas, electricity supplies as Russia reduces exports to continent

Russia reduces gas flows to Germany from 40 to 20% capacity via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline.

Many in the European Parliament say the pain is not being shared equally.

Only working class people are dying. I put it (that) the EU has done nothing to stop this When and so many people in here are dragged to wars taking place.

Mick Wallace, Irish MEP

Within NATO there is opposition to Finland and Sweden joining the military alliance within the EU there is opposition to the blocks foreign policy towards Russia.

There are also tensions between the EU and the UK. At present, it appears, diplomacy in the West simply isn't working and trust between allies is at an all time low.

How this will all play out is anybody's guess. It has been suggested that Russia wants Western allies to fall out

Now is not the time for finger pointing, we understand that they want to destroy, the wants to divide, they want to split this solidarity and unity.

German Galuschenk, Ukrainian Energy Minister

The Ukraine conflict: Russia wants Zelensky out

Russia has stated that its goal is to overthrown the government in Ukraine.

Critics say the West is responsible for the war in Ukraine because Russia's security concerns were ignored and even preyed upon. Experts suggest the conflict has highlighted the EU's weaknesses and has exposed the lack of energy infrastructure investments within the block.

That is what why investing in grits, in interconnectors, in something as boring as pipelines, that matters.

Connie Hedegaard, EU Energy Consultant

Ordinary people in the EU are asking "How did we get to this point?" where there is a cost of living crisis and all sorts of security concerns. Analysts warn there will be political ramifications.