The future EU energy chief says he will speed up the end of Russian gas imports

Dan Jorgensen wants to end the EU's dependency on Russian fossil fuels as soon as possible, he said at a Tuesday parliamentary hearing.

He said: "In my 100-day plan, I will show you how we can reduce our dependence on Russian gas by 2027."

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has given Jorgensen the task to lower energy prices in order to restore Europe's competitiveness as an industrial powerhouse. She also wants to decarbonise Europe's economy and stop the remaining Russian energy imports.

In the next few weeks, he is expected to receive confirmation of his new position.

"We have a problem, our industry suffers." "They are paying twice or three times more for energy than in the U.S.A. and China...the average person is struggling to pay his bills," Jorgensen stated, adding that the conflict in Ukraine was the main cause.

He said that the EU must deploy more renewable energy. This would require expanding grids, increasing digitalisation, new storage technologies, and quicker permitting.

Jorgensen said that nuclear energy is also essential to help reduce carbon emissions.

The expansion of nuclear energy is a controversial issue within the EU. Two opposing camps have emerged - the one that supports France, and the other that backs Germany.

After Russia's full-scale invasion in Ukraine, which began in 2022, the EU set a non-binding target to stop Russian gas imports before 2027.

Although some countries have made little effort to diversify, Russian gas imports increased last year.

"We used get 45% of the gas we use from Russia. Now we only get 18%, but that is still too high. We need to be completely independent of Russian fuel," Jorgensen stated.

In 2022, the EU will ban imports of Russian crude oil with some exceptions. However, it has not imposed any restrictions on gas. In June, several countries banned the trans-shipment of Russian LNG through European ports.

While some members states are seeking tighter restrictions, Hungary, a Russia-friendly country is in negotiations with Gazprom Russia to increase the flow of oil through the TurkStream pipeline by 2025. (Reporting and editing by Barbara Lewis; Julia Payne)

(source: Reuters)