Russia remains Germany’s largest coal supplier despite sanctions

It has been reported that Russia remains Germany’s largest coal supplier despite sanctions imposed by Europe.

According to the news from the German newspaper Bild, last year, Germany’s total coal imports increased by 8 percent compared to the previous year and reached 44.4 million tons.

Despite sanctions banning fossil fuel imports from Russia, the country was also Germany’s largest coal supplier last year, according to data from the German Coal Importers Association.

IMPORTS FROM RUSSIA DECREASED 37 PERCENT

Germany’s coal imports from South Africa rose 279 percent to 3.9 million tons last year, from Colombia to 7.2 million tons up 210 percent, from the US to 9.4 million tons with an increase of 32 percent and from Australia they reached 6.3 million. tons with an increase of 15 percent.

The country’s coal imports from Russia were down 37 percent last year compared to 2021 and were recorded at 13 million tons.

Despite the war and sanctions, Russia remained the country’s largest coal supplier, supplying 29 percent of Germany’s total coal imports.

THE EU EMBARGO CAUSED IMPROVEMENTS

Uncertainties on the supply side following the Russia-Ukraine War and the EU embargo on Russian energy products led to imbalances in German energy markets.

Germany faced a spiraling energy crisis triggered by Moscow’s decision to stop the flow of gas through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline after the war.

The German government announced that it would completely stop buying Russian crude from 2023, in the framework of the EU sanctions.

GERMANY IS THE COUNTRY THAT ALLOCATES THE MOST RESOURCES TO THE ENERGY CRISIS

Reassessing its coal and nuclear power policies after the energy crisis, the country operated 14 thermal power plant units and prepared 3 units to operate in case of emergency.

It was decided that 3 nuclear power plants, which were planned to close earlier, in the event of a possible power shortage during the winter, would be kept on standby as emergency reserves.

According to Bruegel, a think tank based in Brussels, Germany was the country that allocates the most resources to the energy crisis among European countries, with a total of 268.1 billion euros.

The ratio of financial measures to national income in the face of the energy crisis in the country corresponded to 7.5 percent. (AA)