How reliant is Germany – and the rest of Europe – on Russian gas?

(The Guardian, 21 Jul 2022) As the Nord Stream pipeline reopens at lower capacity, pressure remains to reduce consumption and dependency on Moscow.

Russia has resumed critical gas supplies to Europe through Germany, reopening the Nord Stream gas pipeline after 10 days, albeit at a lower capacity. But will this be enough to resolve the pressing energy worries of Germany and the wider continent?

How reliant is Germany on Russian gas?

Natural gas makes up about 27% of Germany’s overall energy mix. Before the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine, just over half (55%) of gas consumed in Germany was imported from Russia. Since Russia invaded Ukraine at the end of February, the German government has scrambled to source gas from elsewhere, for example by buying more natural gas from Norway or the Netherlands, or by expanding its infrastructure for importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the US and Qatar. As of the end of June, Germany is only reliant on Russian imports for about a quarter of its gas needs.

This last quarter, however, is required in areas where Germany is particularly vulnerable: to heat private homes and to power the industry of the EU’s largest economy. In both of those areas, gas is the single largest source of energy, at about 37% of the overall mix.

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The Guardian, 21 Jul 2022: How reliant is Germany – and the rest of Europe – on Russian gas?

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