A New Look at Getting Gas from Russia: CDU Politicians Ponder Over the Option
Overview
- CDU Politicians Contemplate Heavily Regarding Gas Imports from Russia
Rumors are bubbling about the CDU party's potential interest in restarting gas imports from Russia. Julia Verlinden, a Green party member, voiced concerns, stating that such a move could jeopardize Germany's independence from fossil energy sources and potentially harm the nation.
Neither the CDU nor the SPD offered immediate comment on the issue.
CDU Politician's Stance
Jan Heinisch, a CDU politician, suggested that if a fair and secure peace was ever established, discussions about purchasing Russian gas should be on the table once more. Heinisch, a vice-chair of the CDU parliamentary group in the North Rhine-Westphalian state parliament and part of the climate and energy working group, stressed that Russia could serve as one of many potential global suppliers of gas. The exact means of importing the gas – either via sea or pipeline – remains uncertain.
History of Pipelines
The so-called "Nord Stream 2" project aimed to bring gas from former main supplier Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea. However, this plan was thwarted when the traffic light coalition stopped the project shortly after Russia's attack on Ukraine in February 2022. A sequence of explosions targeted the pipeline strings of both the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines in September 2022.
Determination of Thomas Bareiß
Recently, Thomas Bareiß, a CDU federal parliamentarian from Baden-Württemberg, expressed admiration for the business acumen of the United States. In a LinkedIn post, Bareiß commented on rumors of US-Russian cooperation over commissioning the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to end the Ukraine war. If peace were restored, relations normalized, and embargos lifted, Bareiß suggested that gas could once again flow, potentially even under the control of a US investor.
Concerns and Proposals
Energy and geopolitics expert Jacopo Maria Pepe from the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik cautioned against a pipeline controlled by an American investor, claiming it would result in "double dependence." Pepe proposed that if the operating company of North Stream 2 were to file for bankruptcy, the German state should bid on the pipeline. He suggested this would be the rational move, given the pipeline's current state as a ruin on the seabed. Either Russia would continue to be a gas supplier in the future, or a detour through Finland to import hydrogen could be constructed.
The operating company of North Stream 2 is highly indebted and could soon file for bankruptcy, according to a decision by a Swiss court. If this happens, bankruptcy proceedings will be initiated, which correspond to an insolvency procedure in Germany.
Final Thoughts
Some experts believe that it's not out of the question for Germany to import gas from Russia again in the future. However, this would require significant political changes, including a peaceful resolution in Ukraine. A simple US-Russian agreement would not be feasible at this time, as it would require involvement from the Federal Government and the agreement of other European states. Both the Green party's Julia Verlinden and energy expert Jacopo Maria Pepe encourage the next German government to prioritize the expansion of renewable energy sources.
- Amidst the CDU party's potential consideration of resuming gas imports from Russia, concerns have been raised by Julia Verlinden, a Green party member, about the potential impact on Germany's independence from fossil energy sources.
- Jan Heinisch, a CDU politician, advocates for discussions about purchasing Russian gas should the circumstances warrant it, suggesting that Russia could potentially be one of many global suppliers of gas, though the means of importing would be uncertain.
- Meanwhile, a CDU federal parliamentarian from Baden-Württemberg, Thomas Bareiß, has shown interest in the possibility of US-Russian cooperation over the commissioning of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, expressing the possibility of gas flows resuming under the control of a US investor, if peace is restored, relations normalized, and embargos lifted.
