Berlin, mainly affected by the Russian supply cut, complained of having to pay “astronomical” values to a “friendly country”.
The German Minister of Economy, Robert Habeck, lamented on Wednesday the “astronomical” prices demanded by the “friendly” countries of Germany, starting with the United States, by providing the necessary gas to compensate for the supply cut from Russia.
“Some countries, even friends, sometimes get astronomical prices,” Habeck said in an interview with regional daily Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung on Wednesday. ” This is a problem, “said the minister, who urged the European Commission (the executive body of the European Union) to “talk” with these countries.
After the invasion of Ukraine, Russia began to significantly reduce its gas deliveries to Germany, before completely stopping them in early September. Before the conflict, 55% of Germany’s gas imports came from Russia.
To safeguard its energy security and protect its industry, Berlin had to diversify its supplier list and greatly increased its purchases of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is imported much more expensive.
Germany, like the entire continent, turned to the United States, whose LNG exports to Europe almost doubled from 2021 to 2022.
“America came to us when oil prices soared. I think such solidarity would also be useful to cushion gas prices,” the minister said.
Last spring, in the midst of rising oil prices, the United States and its International Energy Agency allies took advantage of their national strategic reserves of barrels to reduce pressure on markets.
SOURCE: AMBITO.COM