Germany has prepared in advance to ensure energy security in the winter without Russian gas, and is likely to cope with this task. This was stated by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, speaking on Monday in Erfurt on the occasion of the Day of German Unity.
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“Germany has prepared for the winter, made decisions in advance that allow us to say by now that, unlike last year, we are ready and will probably overcome the winter, we will ensure the energy supply of our country if everyone continues to contribute to this,” Scholz said.
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“We will do everything to ensure that in the long term our energy supply is such that no one could blackmail us, no one could put pressure on us,” the Chancellor said.
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Germany is currently reducing its dependence on Russian energy resources. According to the plan of the authorities, during the year it is planned to abandon coal and oil, but gas from the Russian Federation will be required at least next year. According to German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock, at present the share of Russian gas in Germany has decreased to 6-8%.
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The German government in this situation is betting on the construction of terminals for the reception of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
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Germany will have two floating regasification units for receiving LNG by the end of the year, and two more by May 2023. Their total annual capacity is estimated at 33 billion cubic meters of gas. The first stationary LNG terminal in Germany is planned to be completed only by 2026
