While much of Europe is much further along, Austria continues to struggle with its withdrawal from Russian gas supplies. After concerns from the sector on Monday, Economic Affairs Minister Martin Kocher (ÖVP) followed suit – and was immediately criticized by the Greens, SPÖ and FPÖ.
Russia’s dependence on fossil fuels remains enormous: until recently, about 90 percent of supplies came from the aggressive state. Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) recently put pressure on her: she wants to reduce the share of imports from Russia to zero by 2027/2028. It also follows an EU plan in which all members have agreed to an exit in 2027.
Kocher fears ‘land damage’
However, the sector is not happy with the plans: the fact that transit through Ukraine contractually expires at the end of the year is causing headaches for companies. Kocher now also jumps to your side. “An exit that may take place too quickly should not harm the economy,” Kocher told the “Standard”.
Gewessler sent the legislative package on the diversification obligation for gas suppliers, announced in mid-February, to government partner ÖVP a few weeks ago. The Minister of Energy’s bills include changes to the Gas Industry Act, the Gas Diversification Act and the Energy Management Act.
Gas suppliers must provide proof of origin
According to the draft, every gas supplier in Austria will be obliged to demonstrate an increasing share of non-Russian natural gas from the gas year 2024/25. In the first year, this share should amount to 40 percent of the total quantity supplied to customers. “Not all suppliers have said they can easily exit Russian gas. The goal to get out is indisputable, the question is how to get there in the best possible way,” said Kocher.
Criticism of the ÖVP’s “clumsy media statements”.
In addition to the green government partner, the FPÖ and SPÖ also criticized the statements of the Minister of Economic Affairs. “Minister of Energy Leonore Gewessler sent a concrete design to the coalition partner more than a month ago. So far, apart from some bumpy media statements, we have unfortunately not received a response from the ÖVP,” Green Party energy spokesman Lukas Hammer said in a broadcast.
The government had two years to “present a plan for a rapid exit from Russian gas. “Nothing has happened in these two years,” criticized SPÖ energy spokesman Alois Schroll. The ÖVP and the Greens had failed to “create framework conditions for gas transport from west to east and for years substantial process acceleration was blocked, especially for energy transition projects,” said FPÖ energy spokesman Axel Kassegger.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
