BRUSSELS -
On nuclear power in Europe, Brussels intends to place "the emphasis on two issues: the security of supply of nuclear fuel
- because there are 5 states that still depend on Russian supplies -, and the promotion of the competitiveness of small modular reactors, with the creation of a European industry for the sector".
Thus the EU Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, speaking to the deputies of the Industry commission of the European Parliament.
"Nuclear power is making a comeback all over the world" and "many member states are already working on it", she highlighted, indicating support from the EU executive.
Speaking at the hearing,
the executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Faith Birol, highlighted that "Japan and Korea have recently backtracked on their exit" from nuclear power,
while "India, China and the Middle East are engaged in the sector and the United States in its anti-inflation provision gives subsidies for modular reactors and the extension of the life of the plants".
"In Europe - you underlined - even if with different accents Sweden, Holland, Poland, France look at nuclear power with a different approach than a few years ago".
The European Commission will also propose to extend the regulation to reduce gas demand by 15% this year and will encourage states not to renew contracts with Russian LNG suppliers, Simson said.
"Last year - he explained - we imported about 20 billion cubic meters of Russian LNG, I encourage Member States and companies not to renew contracts once they have ended".
The European Commissioner for Energy also underlined the importance of having an agreement on the new renewables directive "by the end of March",
the need to accelerate large-scale offshore projects, and to "increase the role of renewables in the electricity market ".
Before the end of the year, he also indicated his intention to present a "concrete initiative" to promote the production of biomethane and a strategy for heat pumps.
"I support - added Simson again - the inclusion of the construction of energy networks in the strategic sectors" envisaged by the 'zero emissions industrial plan which will be presented next week'.
The European Commission "supports all initiatives to secure" Zaporizhzhia
"because occupying a civilian power plant is against all international agreements and creates a very dangerous situation," Simson said in response to journalists' questions.
The commissioner reported that she is "in contact" with Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko "to support Ukraine's energy system".
In the afternoon, the two will have an interview via video call.
