Germany can do without Russian gas if necessary, says German Economy Minister Robert Habeck, noting there would be assistance for consumers if prices rise in the short term due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
“As far as the short-term price increases and the burden on consumers and businesses are concerned, we will provide relief elsewhere,’’ the Green politician said on Deutschlandfunk radio early on Wednesday.
“We can hardly intervene in the world market price of gas or oil.
“But we will abolish the EEG levy charged to electricity consumers to help pay for the country’s transition to renewable energy. We will counteract it with social policy.’’
The most important thing was that Germany has enough gas and the supply was secured, Habeck said.
Asked if Germany could do without Russian gas completely, Habeck replied, “Yes, it can.’’
However, he qualified this comment by saying that this would mean significantly higher prices.
Germany’s concerns about the impact of the Ukraine crisis on energy supply and prices were exacerbated on Tuesday, when Chancellor Olaf Scholz put the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia on hold.
The multi-billion-euro project was expected to provide millions of households in Germany and Europe with natural gas.
Scholz ordered Habeck’s ministry to reassess the project’s security of energy supply in light of the Russian moves in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Andrij Melnyk, welcomed the sanctions against Russia – but said on the same radio station that now it might be too late.
Russia’s moves meant the failure of diplomatic efforts of recent years, including Germany’s mediation, to resolve Ukraine-Russia tensions, he told the broadcaster on Wednesday.
“We are standing alone. Now it’s up to Germany to decide what to do. Where is the diplomacy now? We are alone. We have the feeling that we are being sacrificed to this pacifism,’’ he said. (dpa/NAN)