Junior minister: Austria looks to renewables and African gas to reduce US LNG dependency

Minister says energy security and US dependence are top concerns

Austria hopes to diversify through African gas and renewables

OECD energy ministers meet in Paris for biennial event

By America Hernandez

PARIS, February 18 - Austria is looking to increase renewable energy and gas imports from Africa in order to avoid becoming too dependent on U.S. Liquefied Natural Gas as Europe reshapes its 'energy supply.

As a result of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, European countries struggle to maintain affordable electricity prices. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, has many governments concerned about replacing one dependence with another.

"The U.S. cannot be predicted in these times. Therefore, for Austria, we are looking very closely to ensure that we have LNG from other sources," said Elisabeth Zehetner. Austria's State secretary for energy.

Zehetner will be meeting with 38 ministers of the OECD to discuss energy at an International Energy Agency event in Paris.

Living with Dependencies

"Since last year's beginning, we have not imported any Russian gas. But we are now facing the same issue with LNG. "If more than 40% (of Europe's) LNG imports come from the U.S. alone, we must ask ourselves whether we haven't traded one dependence for another." she said.

U.S. Energy Sec. Chris Wright criticised on Tuesday the IEA’s focus on renewables, climate policy and urged Europe to buy more U.S. LNG for what he claimed would be low price.

Zehetner noted that most ministers in the first session on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment towards expanding renewable energy because it is?domestic, low-cost to generate and while natural gas remains essential for stable supplies.

"Domestic production is more reliable than any type of imports... but we know we will still depend on gas for many years to come." Zehetner asked, "How can we live with such dependences?"

She said Austria hopes to increase its gas imports via the Transmed pipeline, which lands in Italy. Austria imports gas from Norway, the U.S., and Qatar.

Zehetner, when asked about a possible return to Russian Gas, said that Austria would prefer buying renewable energy from Ukraine, but added that there could be some Russian Gas again considered if a peace agreement was reached acceptable to Kyiv.

She said, "We have learned from our mistakes and we don't want to depend on anyone." (Reporting by America Hernandez in Paris. Mark Potter (Editing)

(source: Reuters)