Following the UK’s exit, Denmark is the EU’s largest producer of crude oil from the country’s own oil fields in the North Sea. However, the Danish government decided last year to phase out gas and oil production completely by 2050. The parliamentarians wanted to gradually reduce the production of oil and gas. Now the government is changing tack and even wants to increase the production quota. In this way, the Danes want to make themselves independent of Russian supplies before the end of this year.
Denmark to increase production quotas by a quarter
Commenting on the change of strategy, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said: “We are convinced that it is better to produce gas in the North Sea than to buy it from Vladimir Putin. According to the government, a short-term increase in production quotas by a good quarter compared to current production levels is possible. This could make Denmark completely independent of Russian imports as early as next year. However, the Danish government is sticking to the phase-out of oil and gas production by 2050. For this reason, it wants to quadruple the capacity of wind and solar power plants by 2030.
Germany could produce more gas from its own gas fields
A significant increase in natural gas production would also be possible in Germany. At present, Germany produces just 5 percent of its own requirements from its own gas fields. Experts believe it would be possible to increase production rates to at least 20 percent of its own needs by using fracking technology. However, Economics Minister Robert Habeck vehemently rejects fracking in his own country. He cites lengthy approval procedures, which he could certainly shorten, especially from within his ministry. He continues to rely on LNG supplies from the U.S. and Qatar, which are produced there using precisely this technology.
Habeck relies on LNG from the USA and Qatar
However, since LNG supplies cannot meet German demand, Habeck is sticking to supplies from Russia. He is receiving support from the employers’ associations and the trade unions, because without Russian natural gas the German economy would collapse. However, criticism of this strategy is growing louder, both from other EU countries and from within the country itself.
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