Österreichs Abhängigkeit von russischem Gas steigt zwei Jahre nach dem Ukraine-Krieg auf 98 %

by MaleficentParfait863

34 comments

  1. Article:

    **Austria’s dependence on Russian gas has increased from 80% to 98% in two years, prompting the country’s energy minister to ring the alarm bell ahead of a national election due to take place in the Autumn.**

    When Russia attacked Ukraine on 24 February 2022, Austria was importing 80% of its natural gas from the state company Gazprom, a figure that has now risen to 98%.

    The country’s energy minister, Leonore Gewessler, is urging rapid action to reverse this.

    “The diversification of our gas imports is progressing far too slowly. This culminates in a new record share of Russian natural gas in December of 98%,” the Green minister told the press in Vienna on Monday (12 February).

    The 98% figure is a massive increase compared to the 17% achieved in October 2022, when Russia itself restricted gas flows to Europe. But the trend was soon reversed and the share of Russian gas was already back at 43% in August last year.

    The high share of Russian gas is partly caused by rapidly falling gas consumption in Austria – from 100 TWh down to 75 TWh in 2023, according to figures from the energy ministry.

    Another reason is the contractual ties. Austrian utility OMV committed to a “take-or-pay” arrangement with Gazprom for up to 60 TWh a year, nearly enough to meet the country’s entire gas demand. These supplies, contracted in 2018 until 2040, come at a likely cheaper price than neighbouring Germany, which must rely on global markets to secure liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments.

    “Gazprom delivers, OMV has to practically take it,” said Christoph Dolna-Gruber, an expert at the country’s energy agency.

    And local energy utilities in Austria, most of which are part-owned by municipalities or cities, are all too happy to snap it up.

    Alternatives are available, but they tend to be more expensive. “There is enough non-Russian natural gas but the energy companies are not buying it,” said Gewessler.

    Meanwhile, imports from countries other than Russia are usually more expensive.

    “Imports via Germany are subject to a gas storage levy of €1.86/MWh. Italy is also planning to levy a charge of €2.19/MWh for gas exports from 1 April 2024,” said Dolna-Gruber.

    **Financing Russia’s war effort**

    When EU envoy to Austria, Martin Selmayr, said in late 2023 that Austria’s continued high levels of gas imports were tantamount to sending “blood money” to Russia, he was firmly reprimanded.
    But Gewessler had no qualms about stating that obvious fact.
    “With our energy bills, we are indirectly financing a heinous war in Ukraine,” she told the press.

  3. I don’t think the energy minister understands what the word “progress” means.

  4. Anyone who depends on Russia is a fucking idiot who is asking to be abused.

  6. This is the problem people!

    Stop buying Russian gas and laundered oil products!

    No sanctions can make up for the amount of cash the EU countries spend on Russian gas!

  9. Keep attacking Russia’s oil storage and production capabilities, Ukraine. Let’s see if we can change that trend.

  10. Clickbait headline

    Upon reading the facts, Austria is Contracted to take
    60 TwH of gas from Gazprom or pay for it anyway.

    Austria used to use 100 Twh of gas, so they had to import 40 from other sources. they have reduced their overall gas consumption, so now they only use 70, Meaning they only need a small amount from other sources to fill their need.

    THAT is why the percentage has increased. they are not buying more, they are using less.

    One assumes that the penalty for not taking the gas is steep.

  14. Isn’t the whole country a cesspool of Russian spies and influence anyways?

  15. First time I’ve agreed with trump. Russians can have them.

  16. I heat my apartment with a wood oven, greetings from Austria 🇦🇹

  17. Fun question – how many solar panels in Austria could the amount of money dumped into Ukraine for weapons have bought?

  19. And some Europeans were talking about sanction against india and china. Hypocrisy much ?

  20. Keep in mind that Austria is non-aligned, not part of NATO. The country made a deal with the devil in the 1950s to gain its “independence.”

    Greetings from Austria, where I have honestly never turned the heat on in my apartment after six winters.

  22. Austria is a complete joke of a country. They let foreign intelligence agencies run wild and they do nothing about it. The whole country is infested with spies, so it’s no surprise that their politicians are bought and sold.

  23. Ukraine Just needs to blow up the gas and oil lines on the Russian side of it. That will force Austria off the Russian teet. Serve them right for putting all there eggs in one basket, especially to a genocidal monster like Putin.

  26. “two years after Ukraine war”
    After? It’s still going on.

  30. It’s hard to go for LNG when you’re landlocked I guess

  33. Everyone keeps saying energy consumption in Austria has decreased. I read the article and the comments. No one said why Austria’s energy consumption has decreased. Why???

  34. All these outrage comments talking shit about Austria. Then IRL off Reddit no one actually cares

Leave a Reply