Austria's alarming energy dependency: where is the solution?

Austria's alarming energy dependency: where is the solution?

Austria faces a serious challenge in terms of its energy supply. In 2024, the country was able to cover only 6.0 % of its oil requirements and 6.3 % of its natural gas requirement through its own funding. These figures show a decline compared to 2023, when the values were still 8.5 % for oil and 7.0 % for natural gas. According to an investigation by Geosphere Austria on behalf of the Montan Authority in the Ministry of Finance, domestic oil production decreased by 0.3 % to 476,000 tons, while natural gas production decreased by 1.6 % to 537 million normal cubic meters. Despite an economically usable find in a new hole and several smaller discoveries, the decline in total funding cannot be stopped. This raises serious questions about security and - especially in geopolitical terms - to dependent on Austria on foreign energy sources. In times of growing geopolitical uncertainties, this discussion is more relevant, such as Vol.at.

The transformation of the energy system is a global phenomenon that affects not only the climate, but also the geopolitical framework. The energy transition, which is characterized by the conversion of the energy system, is slowly running, but has the potential to promote human security. It reduces the dependency on fossil raw materials and strengthens access to energy. While billions worldwide are invested in renewable energies, many developing countries remain excluded from the advantages of the energy change. In particular, the challenges of network protection and the risks of cyber attacks are in the room. [swp-berlin.org] (https://www.swp-berlin.org/publika/die-energende-und-ihre-geopolitic- Konsquenzen/) emphasizes that the need for international cooperation to cope with these challenges is indispensable.

geopolitical risks and energy security

The geopolitical implications of the energy structures should not be underestimated. The military invasion of Russia in Ukraine has made it clear, as is a vulnerable number of countries, including Germany, due to its high gas import dependency. The Kremlin used its control over the gas deliveries to exert political pressure. This focused on insufficient security security in Germany and the EU. The reduction of gas deliveries and the discussion about the certification of Nord Stream 2 are just a few of the conflict -loaded aspects of this dependency. The EU is forced to look for costly pipelinegas and liquefied gas on the world market, which contributes to dramatic price increases. bpb.de also reports that the discussion about energy security does not adequately take into account geopolitical and economic risks.

Overall, Austria and the EU are at a turning point where the geopolitical landscape and the energy supply policy must be fundamentally new. Only through comprehensive transformation and strategic cooperation can resilient and sustainable energy future be secured.