To avoid “energy wars,” Germany should continue with energy transition – interview

The importation of more liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States would make the EU less dependent on Russia for energy, but American LNG is associated with significant environmental damage due to its extraction method, economist Claudia Kemfert said in an interview with the tageszeitung (taz). In late July, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and U.S. President Donald Trump expressed joint interest in the United States supplying more LNG to Europe. Instead of getting embroiled in “energy wars” involving other major powers, Germany should continue with its transition to a low-carbon economy, thereby reducing its dependence on foreign sources of energy, according to Kemfert. “This will make us stronger in import negotiations and politically and economically more independent,” she said.

Read the interview in German here.

For background, read the news digest item Trump lashes out at Nord Stream 2, says Germany is “totally controlled” by Russia, the dossier The role of gas in Germany’s energy transition, and the factsheet Germany’s dependence on imported fossil fuels.