The move is said to be in response to a recent threat from Russia stating that it could consider closing the main Russia-Germany gas pipeline, if the Western governments cut energy supplies from the country.
As part of the plan, Germany and Norway will undertake a feasibility study on the proposed pipeline project, the countries said, following a meeting between German Economy Minister Robert Habeck, and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store.
The pipeline will be designed to transport green hydrogen from Norway to Germany.
Germany and Norway were cited by the publication as saying, in a joint statement:
- Over the coming months and years, it will be extremely important to speed up the development of alternative energy sources for Europe as substitutes for Russian gas and oil, and to develop the necessary infrastructure for this
The government is also supporting efforts to build new LNG terminals, purchasing LNG, and accelerating plans to expand renewables capacity.
In a separate announcement, Germany-based electric utility company E.ON has ceased purchasing new gas from European trading companies of Russia’s Gazprom, reported Reuters.
E.ON CEO Leonhard Birnbaum was cited by the news agency as saying, in the company’s annual press conference:
- In view of the military conflict in Ukraine, we have stopped procuring new amounts from these companies
The German company, via its pension fund, owns a 15.5% stake in the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which is majority owned by Gazprom.
