European Commission Vice-President in charge of the European Green Deal Frans Timmermans said on Tuesday that the European Union would continue to burn additional coal and seek alternatives to Russian gas for three years to help its industry and population. the crisis caused by the war in Ukraine.

Ursula von der Leyen and Frans TimmermansPhoto: Virginia Mayo/AP/Profimedia

“Yes, we are burning more coal, we are looking for more natural gas wherever we can find it (not outside of Russia). But it will last another three years, after which we will make serious changes and introduce more renewable energy sources. Despite this, we are still within the target, even improving our “decarbonization” goal, Timmermans said at the press conference of the COP27 climate summit held in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, reports EFE agency, reported by Agerpres.

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the reduction of Russian gas supplies, the EU was forced to look for alternative supply options, so that if before this invasion Russian gas accounted for 40% of its total consumption (with large differences between member states), now this percentage has fallen below 10% , which means “fantastic efforts on the part of the member states, so that their population and enterprises can economically survive for a few more years”, explained the vice-president of the European Commission.

“We must close the gap created by Putin’s barbaric war. If we do not take care of our population, our business, we will do a great favor to Putin (…), an autocrat who is spreading autocracy in Europe,” Timmermans said.

Russian gas supplies to Europe via the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea were initially suspended by Russia under the pretext of maintenance work, and since the end of September the pipeline and Nord Stream 2 have been rendered unusable due to explosions blamed on Russia . about the American sabotage act.

After the start of Russian military aggression against Ukraine, the reduction in Russian gas supplies was partially compensated by liquefied natural gas (LNG), imported, in particular, from the USA. This gas, delivered by gas tankers, is more expensive than that transported through existing pipelines, and last month the government in Berlin accused Washington of selling imported liquefied natural gas to Germany at “astronomical” prices.

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