EC: Russia's share of EU gas imports fell to 18 percent in June

Brussels, September 11 (CTK correspondent) – Russia accounted for just 18 percent of total EU gas imports in June 2024, down from 45 percent in 2021, European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson announced today. The State of the Energy Union report she published also shows that Europe has made enormous progress in the energy transition over the past five years.

„Measures at both EU and national level have paid off, and electricity and gas prices have fallen dramatically compared with 2022, when they reached record highs, in both wholesale and retail markets,“ the European Commission's new report says.

However, Simson said the European Union will have to be even more ambitious over the next five years. „Energy prices remain high and affect our citizens as well as Europe's international competitiveness,“ she said.

If the European Union is to continue reducing its dependence on Russian gas, it must ensure sufficient supplies from member states, Simson said. The commissioner also welcomed the fact that Europeans managed to reduce gas consumption by 18 percent between August 2022 and May 2024. This saved around 138 billion cubic metres of gas.

The report highlights the significant progress made in the use of renewable energy. Wind power has already overtaken gas to become the second-largest source of electricity in the European Union, after nuclear power. „In the first half of 2024, renewables generated 50 percent of electricity in the EU,“ the document says.

In this connection, Commissioner Simson urged member states to submit their outstanding national energy and climate plans as soon as possible. „So far, we have received only ten, even though the deadline has already passed. These plans are essential for jointly achieving the EU's 2030 energy and climate goals,“ she added.

The State of the Energy Union report also includes detailed chapters on individual member states. In the chapter on the Czech Republic, titled Key energy data, it notes that „fossil fuels account for more than two-thirds (68.6 percent) of the energy mix in Czechia (compared with 69 percent at EU level), while nuclear power accounts for 17.9 percent and renewables for 13.5 percent“. On the flexibility of the energy system, the document says that Czechia has eight underground gas storage facilities with a total capacity of 4.17 billion cubic metres of gas. As of August 17, they were 89.84 percent full.

„In 2023, the Czech Republic had two sources of natural gas supplies, compared with three in 2021. Germany was the main supplier, with a 98 percent share. In 2021, Russia, with 55 percent, and Germany, with 38 percent, were the Czech Republic's largest sources of natural gas,“ the document says.

Looking ahead to the coming winter, Commissioner Simson also emphasized the importance of supporting Ukraine. In response to Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, the EU has so far delivered more than 8000 generators and over 3000 transformers to the war-torn country, helping supply electricity to places such as hospitals.