German businesses and public institutions should heat their offices no higher than 19 degrees Celsius (66.2 degrees Fahrenheit) this winter to help reduce the country’s consumption of natural gas, Germany’s economy minister said Saturday. Germany, the European Union’s biggest economy, is quickly trying to wean itself off using natural gas …
Read More »EU Gas Dependence on Russia Falls by 50%
The European Union has reduced its dependence on Russian gas deliveries by 50 percent, but savings will be necessary to make up for the difference with alternative supplies. This is what the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said this week in a …
Read More »EU Ministers Struggle over 15% Gas-Cut Plan
EU energy ministers gather in Brussels on Tuesday (26 July) for a special council meeting, with several countries aiming to water down the EU Commission’s winter emergency gas plan. Some member states are hoping to soften the bloc’s plan to require them to use less gas over winter, as Europe …
Read More »EU to Members: Reduce Gas Use after New Putin Warning
After President Vladimir Putin warned that Russian gas and oil sent to Europe could be further reduced and even stopped, the European Union this week called on member states to cut gas use by 15 percent by March. After a 10-day shutdown for annual maintenance, supplies via the Nord Stream …
Read More »US Oil not the Fundamental Solution for EU’s Energy Woes
For the first time in six years, the European Union (EU) has overtaken Asia as the biggest buyer of US crude oil, Bloomberg reported. The EU imported 213.1 million barrels US crude over the first five months of the year, while Asia imported 191.1 million barrels, new US Census Bureau …
Read More »EU Considering Reducing Natural Gas Consumption by 15%
The European Union (EU) is considering a voluntary 15% cut in natural gas use by its member states beginning next month on concerns that Russia may halt supplies of the fuel, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing EU diplomats, Reuters reported. Brussels is expected to publish plans on Wednesday for how …
Read More »Bracing for Russian Gas Cuts, EU to Ask Countries to Cut Demand
The European Union will set out emergency plans on Wednesday to reduce gas demand within months, warning countries that without deep cuts now they could struggle for fuel during winter if Russia cuts off deliveries. Europe is racing to fill its gas storage ahead of winter and build a supply …
Read More »EU Signs Deal with Azerbaijan to Double Gas Imports amid Energy Crisis
The European Commission has signed a memorandum of understanding with Azerbaijan to double imports of Azeri natural gas to at least 20 billion cubic metres a year by 2027. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on a strategic …
Read More »The EU has Frozen $13 Billion in Russian Assets
European Union member states have so far frozen Russian assets worth $13.8 billion since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders has said. “For the moment, we have frozen — coming from oligarchs and other entities — 13.8 billion euros [$13.8 billion], so it’s quite huge,” …
Read More »EU Plans Investment in World’s Tallest Dam to Dent Russia’s Energy Clout
The European Union plans to become the top investor in the world’s tallest dam in Tajikistan, EU officials told Reuters, in a move aimed at helping Central Asia cut its reliance on Russian energy and part of EU’s answer to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Tajikistan began in 2016 the …
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