Germany sticks to 2030 coal exit target despite energy crisis

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
20 Jun 2022 15:10
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The objective is "more important than ever" given the increased CO2 emissions caused by the government's recent decision to rely more on coal.

Germany sticks to the 2030 coal exit target despite the energy crisis.

Despite reverting to coal after an energy crisis caused by the draconian sanctions imposed on Russia following its military operation in Ukraine, Germany stated Monday that it still intends to close its coal power facilities by 2030.

"The 2030 coal exit date is not in doubt at all," Economy Ministry Spokesperson Stephan Gabriel Haufe said at a regular press conference.

The objective was "more important than ever" given the increased CO2 emissions caused by the government's recent decision to rely more on coal.

The western sanctions campaign on Russia led energy prices to skyrocket, heightening the threat of shortages if deliveries are disrupted.

Gazprom, the Russian energy giant, has cut off supply to many European countries, including Poland, Bulgaria, Finland, and the Netherlands.

Following a decrease in Gazprom gas supply last week, the government announced on Sunday that coal-fired power stations would be "employed more" for electricity generation.

Green Party Economy Minister Robert Habeck described the decision as "bitter but necessary for decreasing gas consumption."

Berlin has called Gazprom's plan to cut Russian gas supply via the Nord Stream project "political", although the move was instigated by the all-out sanctions that hit almost every field in Russia. Following the western-led sanctions, Europe's greatest economy has begun to wean itself from Russian energy imports.

So far, it claimed it has succeeded to limit Russia's supply of natural gas from 55% prior to the war to 35%.

To alleviate the impact of any supply disruptions, the government has also mandated that gas reserves be filled to 90% ahead of the European winter at the end of the year.

Germany's government, a coalition of Social Democrats, Liberals, and Greens, plans to close all coal power facilities by 2030 "ideally".

Their agreement, reached at the end of last year, brought forward the previous government's aim to shut the plants by 2038.