Germany’s dependence on Russian energy supplies and its inability to quickly abandon natural gas and oil imports from the Russian Federation is based on historical rather than economic reasons. This is stated in a video published on the website of the German publication Der Spiegel.
The authors of the video note that few Western countries are as dependent on imports of gas and energy from Russia as Germany – almost 50% of coal and 34% of oil come from the Russian Federation. Germany’s dependence on Russian gas supplies is strongest. Germany imports 52% of its natural gas from Russia. “The fact that the country managed to get into such difficulty is the result of a wrong historical development,” the video’s authors say.
“Since the 1970s, Germany has increasingly relied on gas as an energy source. With the planned phasing out of coal and nuclear energy, dependence on Russia as the world’s largest energy supplier has become even stronger,” he said. the video. But there are other reasons, say the authors of the material. Two large oil refineries located in Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg are still supplied by Russian pipelines, which is also a “legacy of the GDR”.
At the same time, it is specified that more than 90% of Germany’s domestic natural gas consumption is currently imported through pipelines. The deliveries are mainly made by three countries: Russia, Norway, and the Netherlands. However, gas supplies from Norway and the Netherlands “are unlikely to increase”. Other possible options could be Azerbaijan, Algeria, and Morocco.
Liquefied natural gas, the so-called LNG, which can be delivered by tanker from the United States, Qatar, or Australia, is also an option. However, Germany still does not have its port for LNG reception, it is only in the planning stage. “Therefore, the federal government is exploring possible places in the North and Baltic Seas where floating terminals for LNG production could be located in the short term in the winter of 2022-2023,” the authors of the video concluded.
On April 13, German cabinet spokesman Wolfgang Buchner said German authorities were opposed to an immediate embargo on oil and gas supplies from Russia. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has repeatedly pointed out that the German government is pursuing a strategy to gradually reduce its dependence on Russian energy supplies.
Both German experts and politicians say that Germany cannot urgently refuse Russian gas. According to the official forecast of the German Ministry of Economy and Climate Protection, full independence from gas from the Russian Federation will be achieved by the summer of 2024. The supply of coal and oil is expected to be replaced this year.
Three global brands are already in trouble after refusing to withdraw from Russia
The American confectionery manufacturer Mondelez International (including Alpen Gold and Oreo brands), the Swiss Nestle, and the American Pepsi Co are facing layoffs in Ukraine and a negative reaction from the staff in Eastern Europe in connection with the decision not to resort to a complete waiver of activities in Russia.
Thus, in March, nearly 130 Mondelez International employees in the Baltic states sent a petition to the company’s management requesting a complete cessation of activities in the Russian Federation. Many Nestle employees of Ukrainian descent have left or been pressured on social media to continue working for a company doing business in Russia. Commenting to Reuters, several employees from all three manufacturers said they would like their employers to “take a tougher line” with Russia.
