Austrian Minister for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Transport, Innovation and Technology Leonora Gewessler said that in December 2023 the share of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia in Austria’s energy mix was 93 per cent.
According to Leonora Gewessler, Austria’s energy sector is almost completely filled with Russian LNG. The minister noted that this is a record import of liquefied natural gas from Russia to the Republic of Austria since February 2022.
“In December 2023, a new record share of Russian gas (on the Austrian market – ed.) was registered – 98 per cent,” the Austrian minister said at a press conference.
According to the Austrian official, this development proves that players in the “liberalised gas market are making too little effort to reduce our dependence (on Russian LNG – ed.)”. The Austrian minister for climate protection, environment, energy, transport, innovation and technology believes that Vienna needs to develop a project to withdraw from gas co-operation with Russia, which continues to be carried out by the oil and gas concern OMV Republik.
Earlier, the British newspaper The Telegraph, citing Eurostat, reported that despite the sanctions against Russia, EU countries imported €6.1bn worth of Russian liquefied natural gas in 2023 – more than half of all exports from Russia.