Germany is reactivating its coal plants and shutting down its last nuclear reactor as the European Union (EU) intensifies its demand to ban Russian oil and gas imports.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Lower Saxony Minister for the Environment, Energy, Building and Climate Protection Olaf Lies said, “Coal will play a crucial role. That we choose this phrase once again is certainly not entirely self-evident given the country’s plan to phase out coal by 2030.”
Lies added that if Germany wants to be more independent, it will have to reactivate the coal plants.
Speaking alongside the energy minister, Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck acknowledged, “We know, and we have to admit it, that in the last 20 years, we have manoeuvred ourselves into ever greater dependence on fossil energy imports from Russia.” Habeck also denounced the current state of affairs and said the federal government, led by Olaf Scholz, aims to reduce its energy dependency on Russia at the earliest.
Meanwhile, about 100 European lawmakers have called for a ban on oil, gas, and coal imports from Russia. The lawmakers said Europe’s continued dependence on Russian energy is financing the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine.
In a letter, the lawmakers said, “The longer Vladimir Putin will be able to fund his insane war against Ukraine from the revenues of gas and oil exports to Europe, the more damage Europe will bear on its shoulders for Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.” According to the letter, Europe is paying approximately $660 million per day for Russian oil and gas imports.
Right now, Germany is blocking the embargo on Russian energy. Everyday, Europe pays Putin more than 600 mil. € for fossil fuels.
— Fridays For Future Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@fff_ukraine) March 9, 2022
This money costs lives. It finances the war on people in #Ukraine. We urge you: Stop the imports of coal, oil & gas – we need an #EmbargoForPeace!
The lawmakers further referred to a European Parliament resolution adopted in April 2021 that called for an immediate ban on the import of oil and gas from Russia if it invaded Ukraine.
Additionally, the lawmakers urged the EU to expand financial sanctions on Russia, including restricting all Russian banks from accessing the SWIFT international payment system. Reportedly, several Russian banks such as Gazprombank have still not been sanctioned.
The appeal comes ahead of the EU leaders’ meeting in France on Thursday and Friday to discuss the Ukraine conflict. The leaders will discuss measures to reduce Europe’s dependency on Russian gas, diversify gas supply, and increase reliance on renewables. So far, it remains unclear if the meeting will lead to more sanctions on Moscow.
However, not all European lawmakers favour banning energy imports from Russia. In fact, German Chancellor Scholz has cautioned against banning oil and gas imports from Russia, as they make up to 40% of the EU’s gas imports and one-third of oil imports.
Against this backdrop, Russia has threatened to shut down Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline if the countries follow through on their threats to ban Russian energy imports.