Germany has authorised the Netherlands to explore a gas field in the North Sea, and similar projects should also be considered domestically despite environmental concerns, German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche has said, UBN reported.
Speaking on the issue, Reiche argued that relocating unpopular energy projects abroad is not a sustainable long-term strategy. She said the central question remains whether such production is economically viable.
In the current geopolitical climate, she added, Germany must strike a balance between environmental protection and energy security. Although the country holds sizeable natural gas reserves in the North Sea, extraction through fracking has been banned since 2017 due to concerns over groundwater contamination.
At the same time, Germany plans to expand the use of green gases, including biomethane and synthetic fuels. Reiche suggested that biomethane imports from Ukraine could play a key role, noting the country’s strong biogas potential.
She acknowledged that regulatory barriers in both Ukraine and the European Union remain a challenge but said resolving these issues could significantly increase imports in the future.
