The EU Commission is planning a radical end to Russian gas imports by 2028!

The EU Commission is planning a radical end to Russian gas imports by 2028!

The EU Commission has presented a far-reaching plan to stop all imports of Russian gas by 2028. This initiative, designed in response to Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, proposes to stop importing new Russian gas from January 1, 2026 and to gradually terminate existing contracts, with a final ban on long-term contracts from January 1, 2028. The proposal comes from Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen, who described gas imports from Russia as a security threat. According to a report by Vienna.at, gas imports from Russia amounted to 15.6 billion euros in 2024, accounting for about 19% of all gas deliveries to the EU.

The Commission expects that the import of US gas, which reached 19.1 billion euros in the same year, represents one of the alternatives to reduce dependence on Russia. The planned import ban will be introduced in two phases: Short-term contracts are scheduled to expire on June 17, 2026. To implement the proposal, EU countries and the EU Parliament must negotiate the details, with at least 15 of the 27 EU states, which together represent 65% of the EU population, having to agree.

Reactions and challenges

In the context of these developments, some member states such as Hungary and Slovakia have expressed legitimate concerns and are rejecting a joint declaration on energy security. Austria, on the other hand, supports the idea of ​​an import ban, but calls for sufficient flexibility for future options. Particular attention is being paid to the Sefe company, a former part of Gazprom Germania, which still imports liquefied natural gas from Russia and could be affected by the new measures. Sefe imported six times as much LNG in 2024 as in the previous year.

The EU Commission bases its plans on analyzes that show that the remaining gas resources can be mined without risks to security of supply. In addition, a safety clause was provided that makes it possible to suspend the import bans in the event of sudden developments.

Savings potential and alternative energy sources

As part of a ten-point plan from the International Energy Agency (IEA), the savings potential in gas imports is also pointed out. It is estimated that the EU's annual gas imports from Russia could be reduced from 155 billion to 77 billion cubic meters by the end of 2026, a reduction of almost half. Biggest savings could come from importing alternative gas sources such as Azerbaijan and Norway. Further savings would be possible if existing contracts are not extended.

In addition, it is recommended to expand the use of bio- and nuclear energy. By making smaller heating adjustments, such as turning down the heating thermostat by just one degree Celsius, consumers could reduce gas demand by around 10 billion cubic meters per year. These measures and the expansion of gas storage are crucial to avoid seasonal fluctuations in demand and unexpected events. In particular, countries like Germany, which are 49% dependent on Russian gas, face significant challenges.

In summary, the EU is facing a difficult but necessary transition in order to make its energy supply more secure and sustainable in the long term. The developments over the next few months and years will be crucial to significantly reducing dependence on Russian gas.