Page 5 - FSUOGM Week 26 2022

FSUOGM COMMENTARY FSUOGM

European Commission
president Ursula der
Leyen has urged
member states not to
return to coal.

despite the fact that most Germans are now in Netherlands’ under-development terminal in
favour of nuclear power, at least according to a Eemshaven had arrived in the country.
poll published earlier this month by pro-nuclear As for Austria, the government has agreed
association Nuklearia, which estimated that 65% with energy firm Verbund on converting a
of the population supported the energy source. reserve gas-fired power plant to coal, to have on
Meanwhile, the Dutch government said standby if Russia cuts off gas supply to the coun-
on June 20 it was removing a cap on coal-fired try. This marks the first time such a conversion
energy production and initiated the first phase will take place, with coal-fired power plants typ-
of an energy crisis plan. Its remaining coal-burn- ically getting converted to gas instead to reduce
ing facilities are due to be closed in 2023, and in emissions.
recent years their generation capacity has been Italy too has raised the prospect of bringing
capped at 35%. extra coal-fired capacity online.
The government defended the move, stress- These plans quite clearly run counter to the
ing the need for the Netherlands to stock up on goals of the EU’s Fit-for-55 legislative package,
gas supply ahead of winter. Its gas storage facili- aimed at aligning bloc policies across all eco-
ties are currently only 48% full, according to Gas nomic sectors with its target to curb greenhouse
Infrastructure Europe, meaning the country still gas emissions by 55% by 2030. And the Euro-
has a considerable way to go to reach the EU’s pean Commission has said as much.
target of 80% by November 1. In an interview with the Financial Times,
The Netherlands would be able to counter- European Commission President Ursula von
act the cut-off in Russian gas supply by restor- der Leyen urged EU member states to resist
ing production at Groningen, the largest field in switching to coal-fired energy, calling on them
Western Europe, but this remains a highly con- instead to prioritise “massive” investments in
tentious issue. The field is undergoing a man- renewables.
dated, phased closure, after years of production “We have to make sure that we use this crisis
activities causing earthquakes in the surround- to move forward and not to have a backsliding
ing area, and is due to close completely next year. on the dirty fossil fuels,” she told the newspaper.
While the government has said that it will “It is a fine line and it is not determined whether
consider turning some of Groningen’s wells we are going to take the right turn.”
back online in an emergency, it says that this However, while accelerating the expansion in
plan is not currently being considered. Instead, renewables is a laudable long-term goal, resum-
the country is looking to fast-track several LNG ing operation at existing coal power plants can
import projects. Belgian shipping company deliver more immediate support to energy sys-
Exmar announced on June 20 that a floating tems, despite the worrisome implications that
storage and regasification unit (FSRU) for the this will have for the environment. ™

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