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Saudi Arabia and Gulf to be key energy partners as EU plans to reduce dependency on Russia
The Arab News reported, the EU ambassador to Saudi Arabia said, the Kingdom and the Gulf states will have an important role as the EU plans to cut Russian gas imports by two-thirds before the end of the year.
Speaking to reporters in Riyadh, Patrick Simonnet said that the EU has proposed a new plan to reduce its dependence on Russian energy amid Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, and Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states would play a key role as energy partners.
The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, has proposed to reduce its purchases of Russian gas by two-thirds by the end of the year, and cease buying fossil fuels from Russia before 2030.
In a reply to Arab News, the envoy said that this would be achieved by diversifying suppliers, which includes energy partners in the Gulf, and by increasing renewable hydrogen production and improving energy efficiency in households.
He said that the EU seeks to increase imports of green hydrogen from Saudi Arabia, which is one of the largest producers in the world.
According to the Arab News, Saudi Arabia aims to produce 4 million tons of hydrogen by 2030.
The EU envoy said: “There are discussions and negotiations to import natural gas from the Gulf countries, led by Saudi Arabia, which has entered into the gas production strongly during the recent period and has launched many projects in this sector.”
He said there is a new plan to change energy providers in general, especially renewable energy and hydrogen gas.
EU seeks to reduce dependency on Russian gas, oil and coal
“We need to discuss with Saudi Arabia and other gulf countries how far we can redirect our gas imports,” he said adding that “The plan of Europe is also not only to continue importing gas from other sources but to invest in and import renewable energy.”
Source: arabnews
