Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer disagrees with the forced imposition of a Russian gas embargo on all members of the European Union because it's impossible to work. The bloc's reliance on natural gas delivery is essential to its ability to avoid economic collapse.
Gas Embargo Is Economic Suicide
According to Karl Nehammer, the EU cannot afford to restrict natural gas because doing so might cause more harm than good. Media outlets made mention of this, reported RT.
These statements were made when Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited Austria. According to him, the sanctions on Russian pushed by the US have only impacted the bloc members, which is not what should happen. The Austrian official said the gas embargo has failed, and member countries are paying for it.
According to Austrian Chancellor Nehammer, whose view is that a gas embargo is unfeasible, Austria relies on Russian gas, and so does German industry. If German industry fails, so will Austria's industry, and all will all be affected, noted Hi India.
The European Union-approved gas rationing scheme that started earlier this week to reduce gas use by 15% from August to March of the following year, Viktor Orban questioned Brussels.
When the rationing of natural gas happens, he said that the EU is under siege, and next is potential recession and unemployment in the bloc due to Brussels.
Due to technical problems at a major pipeline, there will be less gas flow from Russia's Gazprom, Nord Stream 1 is working at 20% capacity due to the Russian gas embargo. The reduction comes as general winter approaches.
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Biogas To Replace Russian Oil
Despite some expectations, a top biogas researcher has stated that manure-derived gas cannot alleviate Germany's need for Russian fossil fuels.
After the EU slapped sanctions on Moscow over its military campaign in Ukraine, Berlin has been desperately trying to find alternatives to Russian natural gas.
Germany is seriously considering avoiding the need for Russian energy through pipelines by using organic waste derived from manure, grain, and grass; biogas.
According to Der Spiegel magazine, there are 9,500 biogas plants spread out across rural areas of the country. The gas created by farmers is converted into electricity and home heating.
When the German newspaper Die Welt asked on Tuesday, Dr. Guido Ehrhardt, a specialist at the German Biogas Association, commented that it does not solve anything.
He concluded that biogas could replace many things, but not all of them. From a purely technological point of view, it would be feasible to transition to biogas in one or two years and substitute 40% of Russian gas imports, mentioned News7D.
The project to power Germany using cow dung and other organic wastes will face obstacles that must be overcome, and political will is essential to support this effort. The industry would also demand more skilled employees and resources. The government would need to reduce red tape.
According to an outlet, Berlin received 55% of its natural gas supplies before the sanctions against Russia. German officials approved the measures that followed the Brussels sanctions resolution, while Berlin objected.
Austrian Chancellor Nehammer was against the Russian gas embargo from the start and warned the European Union it was knee-capping itself and bringing economic devastation.
