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EC: The share of Russian gas imports to the EU fell to 18 percent in June

by AI | 12.Sep 2024 | Europe in brief AI

In 2023, the Czech Republic had two sources of natural gas supplies compared to three in 2021. The main supplier was Germany with a 98 percent share.

Pipeline - illustrative image. Photo: Sergej Dolzhenko/EPA/dpa

Brussels – Russia’s share of total gas imports to the European Union was only 18 percent in June 2024, down from 45 percent in 2021, announced today the European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson. The State of the Energy Union report, published by her, also shows that Europe has made tremendous progress in energy transition over the past five years.

“Measures at both EU and national levels have paid off, and electricity and gas prices have drastically fallen compared to 2022, when they peaked, both in wholesale and retail markets,” summarizes the new European Commission report. According to Simson, however, the European Union will need to be even more ambitious in the next five years. “Energy prices are still high and are affecting our citizens as well as Europe’s international competitiveness,” she said.

To continue reducing dependence on Russian gas, the European Union must have sufficient supply from member states, according to Simson. The European Commissioner also praised the fact that Europeans managed to reduce gas consumption by 18 percent from August 2022 to May 2024. This saved about 138 billion cubic meters of gas.

The State of the Energy Union report also contains detailed chapters dedicated to individual member states. In the case of the Czech Republic, the chapter titled Key Energy Data mentions that “fossil fuels make up more than two-thirds (68.6 percent) of the energy mix in the Czech Republic (compared to 69 percent at the EU level), the share of nuclear is 17.9 percent and renewable sources 13.5 percent.” Regarding the flexibility of the energy system, the document states that the Czech Republic has eight underground gas storage facilities with a total capacity of 4.17 billion cubic meters of gas. As of August 17, their storage capacity was filled to 89.84 percent.

“In 2023, the Czech Republic had two sources of natural gas supply compared to three in 2021. The main supplier was Germany with a share of 98 percent. In 2021, the largest sources of natural gas for the Czech Republic were Russia with 55 percent and Germany with 38 percent,” the document says. (September 11)