Germany intends to build a gas pipeline that will transport gas from Portugal to the whole of Europe, in order to cut off the gas pipeline Reliance on Russian gas.
This information was revealed on Thursday by German Chancellor, Olaf Schulz, lamenting that it has not yet been built. “There is a huge shortage of this pipeline. This pipeline will significantly reduce the dependency that we see in the current situation,” considered the German, who has already spoken with his counterparts Portugal, Spain and France, as well as with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission to promote this project.
It should be noted that Portugal has been trying for several years for the Sines port to be the gateway for North American natural gas to Europe, Germany also sees that Africa can supply the old continent with gas via Portugal, Spain and France. .
The German chancellor added that a gas pipeline with these characteristics “would solve the current problems”, who highlighted his government’s efforts to reduce Russia’s energy dependence, and admitted that its predecessors did not take this possibility into account.
“All governments, all companies should consider that situations can change and prepare for them if that happens,” Schultz said, after acknowledging that the current ruling coalition (Social Democrats, Greens and Liberals) were “surprised” that there were no alternatives to a potential reduction in Russian gas supplies.
Despite this position, the German leader stressed that it was possible “in record time” to search for alternatives to ensure gas supplies in the coming winter, but admitted that “it would be more expensive”.
Germany’s gas reserves have reached about 75% of their capacity, according to the latest data from the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur), a level that should be reached according to government targets on September 1.
The German government has set a target for deposits to reach 75% of capacity by September 1, rising to 85% on October 1 and to 95% on November 1, enough to ensure supply throughout the winter.
But this development depends on the continued supply of Russian gas through the Nord Stream pipeline.
Russia’s Gazprom stopped supply completely in mid-July, citing the need for maintenance missions. When the service is restored, the volume is reduced to 20% of its capacity, compared to 40% previously.
In the German government coalition, there are currently differences of opinion about the possibility of delaying the end of the last three nuclear power plants still in service and which should cease to operate until the end of this year.
The Green Party rejected this possibility, without ruling it out entirely.
The Liberals are proposing to postpone that to 2024 and advocate the reactivation, if necessary, of another plant that was out of service last year.
Currently, the three nuclear power plants that are still operating provide 6% of the electricity supply.
