French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire on February 28, 2022 in Paris (AFP / Ludovic MARIN)
Europe has “solutions to become independent of Russian gas”, French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Tuesday, adding that he would like to “accelerate” them to be able to “take up the challenge of winter 2022- 2023”.
Confirming that gas prices would be “blocked” until the end of 2022 for consumers in France, the minister spoke during a trip to Normandy about a series of European solutions to deal with the “gas shock” linked to the Russian conflict. -Ukrainian and its consequences on the economy of the continent.
“Independence is not at all the same in all European states, France is 20% dependent for its supply of Russian gas, the European average is 40%, Germany is 55%, and some states are totally dependent (…), for example Finland, it’s 100% gas that comes from Russia”, recalled the minister who was speaking on the sidelines of the visit to a production site of hydrogen from Air Liquide.
He underlined the need for a “collective European solution” on this subject.
Among the solutions mentioned, Mr. Le Maire estimated that it was necessary to “accelerate the storage of gas from this summer”, “to 90% filling and storage to face the winter of 2022”. “The challenge is not now, the challenge is winter 2022-23,” he said.
“Second possibility: group purchases, in common to unite and obtain lower prices,” he said. “Third thing, try to diversify supplies” from other producers.
Fourth avenue mentioned: improving the operation of LNG terminals, seven of which are present in Spain, four in France and “unfortunately” none in Germany. “We can improve the operation of the terminals so that they have a better yield”, estimated Mr. Le Maire, indicating that he had “looked” at this with the leaders of the Engie group.
It is a question of “changing the operating methods of these gas terminals to increase their productivity”, in order to “achieve to gain 5, 10, 15% of operational efficiency and import capacity on these terminals” , then detailed a government source.
– “Gas shock” –
Chart showing the proportion and country of origin of gas imported by the European Union (AFP/)
And that “as soon as possible”: “it’s probably a matter of weeks”, it was said in the entourage of Mr. Le Maire and the Minister for Ecological Transition, Barbara Pompili.
Faced with the “gas shock”, Mr. Le Maire mentioned a final avenue, that of biomass and biogas, “alternative solutions produced in France which will make it possible to become independent of Russian gas”.
According to the CEO of the European Biogas Association (EBA), the “sector is ready to supply 35 billion cubic meters by 2030”, which would represent “over 20% of current European gas imports from Russia”.
“By 2050, this potential can triple, well over 100 billion cubic meters and covering 30-50% of future EU gas demand,” he added.
Mr. Le Maire also confirmed that his ministry was doing a “review” of gas consumers, industrial or not. “I will propose a number of support measures” for large consumers, he said, referring in particular to the case of sugar producers who use gas.