In Europe, coal poised for comeback amid Ukraine crisis but the future is still carbon-neutral: analysts

Name: Oil prices skyrocket around the world as result of Russia-Ukraine conflict, sanctions
Uploaded: 2022-03-09T01:00:18.000Z
Duration: 2 min 11 s
Description: Oil prices skyrocket around the world as result of Russia-Ukraine conflict, sanctions

European leaders expected to agree to phase out EU dependence on Russian fossil fuel imports

Concerns over energy supplies have prompted calls on the continent to postpone coal phase-outs while quickly ramping up clean power

Reading Time:3 minutes

Why you can trust SCMP

Europe needs to bring down its fossil fuel use and imports to meet its climate targets. Photo: Reuters

Echo Xie

Published: 9:00am, 9 Mar 2022Updated: 12:36pm, 9 Mar 2022

Coal is heading for a short-term comeback as Europe looks to cut its reliance on Russian gas and oil but the Ukraine crisis could hasten decarbonisation on the longer run, according to energy analysts.

European Union leaders will meet in Versailles in France on Thursday and Friday to discuss their joint defence policy. They will also agree at the summit to phase out the EU’s dependence on imports of Russian gas, oil and coal, according to Reuters.

But it is a tough task as the EU sources about 40 per cent of its gas imports and one-third of its oil imports from Russia. It also sources about half of its coal from Russia but oil and gas are the main sources of thermal energy for many European countries.

Concerns over energy supplies have prompted calls on the continent to postpone coal phase-outs while quickly ramping up clean power.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said last month that the country could reopen some coal plants to help bridge its looming energy supply gap and cut its dependence on Russia. The Polish government has also approached Australia for alternative coal supplies.

In Germany, where coal-fired power plants were to be phased out by 2038 at the latest, the economic ministers of the 16 German states called for the operations of both coal-fired and nuclear plants to be extended.

German Vice-Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habeck said late last month that coal plants could run beyond 2030 but the country’s ultimate goal was greater energy independence through renewable power.

02:11

Oil prices skyrocket around the world as result of Russia-Ukraine conflict, sanctions

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x