EU: Iran War Spurs Europe to Redouble Efforts to Reduce Dependence on Fossil Fuels

Brussels – Brussels said Wednesday that the energy crisis triggered by the Iran war should serve as a wake-up call for Europe, prompting it to intensify efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The EU warned that the impact of this conflict will persist for several years. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has led to a surge in oil prices and affected aviation fuel supplies in Europe. Approximately 20% of the aviation fuel consumed by the EU's 27 member states is imported via the Strait of Hormuz.

European Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen said at a press conference in Brussels: "This must serve as a wake-up call and a turning point – Europe must break free from its dependence on fossil fuels and move toward energy independence through clean energy."

Jørgensen added: "Even under the best-case scenario, the situation over the coming months will be quite dire, and we will face repercussions for years ahead."

He pointed out that damage to Qatar’s natural gas infrastructure may take years to fully repair, which will affect liquefied natural gas prices.

In response, the European Commission has developed a series of measures to help the EU's 27 member states address current and future challenges.

These measures include relaxing state aid rules, coordinating efforts to fill natural gas storage facilities, and launching an "Electrification Action Plan" to further accelerate the transition to domestically produced clean energy.

Additionally, a "Fuel Observatory" will be established to monitor production, imports, exports, and inventory levels of transport fuels across the EU.

The initial focus will be on aviation fuels. Although the EU says there is currently no evidence of an "actual shortage," inventories in certain regions are already under pressure.

The European Commission stated it will coordinate with member states, fuel suppliers, airports, and airlines to identify alternative fuel supplies and propose measures to optimize internal distribution within the EU to ensure fuel supply stability.

Source: rfi

Original: toutiao.com/article/1863224225558538/

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