Mercedes Mullins
Germany's fuel imports from Russia have fluctuated in recent years, impacted by geopolitical events such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine and subsequent sanctions. Before the invasion, Germany was Europe's largest importer of Russian gas, with Russia supplying 34.1% of Germany's crude oil in 2021. Germany has since taken steps to reduce its dependence on Russian energy, and by 2024, direct imports of Russian natural gas had ceased. However, Germany continues to receive Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) indirectly through intermediary ports in Belgium, France, and the Netherlands, with estimates suggesting that 3-9.2% of Germany's gas supply still originates from Russia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Germany's main supplier of oil, gas, and hard coal | Russia |
| Germany's crude oil supplied by Russia | 34% in 2021 |
| Hard coal received by German power generators and steelmakers from Russia | 53% in 2021 |
| Germany's gas supplied by Russia | More than a third |
| Germany's gas imported from Russia in August 2022 | 953 million cubic meters |
| Germany's gas imported from Russia in December 2021 | 5.2 billion cubic meters |
| Germany's gas imported from Russia in June 2021 to August 2024 | 0 million cubic meters |
| Germany's LNG infrastructure | Absent |
| Germany's LNG supplier | The Dutch Gate landing terminal |
| Germany's LNG handling capacity | 12 bcm |
| Germany's oil consumption | Used mostly for transport |
| Germany's oil consumption since the late 1990s | Decreasing more or less steadily |
| Germany's oil use by 2030 | Must decrease significantly |
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What You'll Learn
Germany's energy dependence on Russia
Germany has historically been heavily dependent on Russian energy imports, particularly natural gas, crude oil, and hard coal. In 2021, Russia supplied 34% of Germany's crude oil, and 53% of the hard coal received by German power generators and steelmakers.
Germany was also Europe's largest importer of Russian gas before the war in Ukraine. In December 2021, Germany imported 5.2 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Russia. However, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Germany decided to wean itself off Russian oil and gas, and imports from Russia decreased significantly due to sanctions and the disruption to trade and infrastructure. By August 2024, Germany imported no Russian natural gas.
Germany has since sought alternative gas supplies from countries like the United States, Qatar, Azerbaijan, and Japan. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been praised for taking emergency energy measures to prevent blackouts and ensure people did not freeze in the winter. Germany has secured contracts with new suppliers and is building terminals to receive liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments by sea. However, Germany does not have domestic LNG infrastructure, so it relies on terminals in neighbouring countries to regasify LNG and feed it into the natural gas pipeline infrastructure.
While Germany has made significant progress in reducing its dependence on Russian energy, there are still concerns about Russian LNG flowing through German networks via companies like SEFE Energy GmbH, a state-owned gas importer formerly known as Wingas. Additionally, it is difficult to attribute the origin of all gas that crosses borders into Germany, and Russian gas may still be entering the country indirectly through pipelines from Austria or Switzerland, which can contain a mix of Russian and non-Russian natural gas.
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Germany's transition to renewable energy
Germany has been promoting renewable energy sources since the 1990s, with the aim of transitioning to a low-carbon, nuclear-free economy. This shift is known as "Energiewende" and involves a reorientation of policy from supply to demand and a move towards distributed generation. The German government has set ambitious targets for renewable energy, aiming for at least 80% of electricity to be produced from renewable sources by 2030 and to become climate-neutral by 2045.
Germany's energy transition has resulted in a significant expansion of renewables, particularly wind power, solar energy, and biomass. In 2024, around 54% of Germany's electricity came from renewable sources, with wind power contributing the most at 31.87%. This expansion of renewables has helped Germany reduce its dependence on fossil fuel imports, including natural gas from Russia.
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Germany decided to phase out Russian gas and oil, which had previously been a major source of energy imports. To compensate for this loss, Germany secured contracts with other suppliers and began developing infrastructure to receive liquefied natural gas (LNG) by sea. Germany's quick adjustment to the loss of Russian gas supplies was made possible by its existing progress in transitioning to renewable energy, as well as its ability to source gas from third countries.
The energy transition in Germany has had a significant impact on society, with the development of new infrastructure and the creation of energy cooperatives. Hundreds of kilometres of new high-voltage transmission lines are being built to carry electricity from wind power in northern Germany to industrial complexes in the south. Private households are also being encouraged to install photovoltaic panels to contribute to their energy supply.
Germany's experience in weaning itself off fossil fuels and nuclear energy offers valuable insights for other countries looking to make a similar transition. The country's commitment to renewable energy and energy efficiency has been commended internationally and is seen as a major undertaking for a large economy.
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Russian gas imports to Germany halted
Germany was Europe's largest importer of Russian gas before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In the face of escalating tensions with Russia, Europe's biggest gas supplier, EU officials sought alternative gas supplies from countries like the United States, Qatar, Azerbaijan, and Japan. In 2021, Russia was the main supplier of oil and natural gas to the EU, accounting for 34% of Germany's crude oil supply and 53% of the hard coal received by German power generators and steelmakers.
Following the invasion, Germany decided to wean itself off Russian oil and gas, and Russia abruptly cut off gas supplies to the country. Berlin had to quickly find alternatives, securing contracts with other suppliers and building terminals to receive liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments by sea. Germany's success in this regard can be attributed to Chancellor Olaf Scholz's emergency energy measures, which ensured that people didn't freeze in the winter and there were no blackouts.
In August 2024, Germany imported no Russian natural gas, compared to an import volume of around 953 million cubic meters in August 2022. The highest recorded import volume from Russia was 5.2 billion cubic meters in December 2021. Despite Germany's efforts to reduce its dependence on Russian gas, it's speculated that Russian LNG may have flowed through German networks via a company called SEFE Energy GmbH, a state-owned gas importer formerly known as Wingas.
The global energy crisis, fuelled by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, has intensified the debate about Europe's and Germany's reliance on imported fossil fuels, particularly their heavy dependence on a single supplier—Russia. Germany's adjustment to the shock of losing Russian gas supplies was surprisingly swift, with substitution on the supply side playing a crucial role. The European Union's campaign for saving gas for a safe winter also contributed to the joint effort.
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Germany's fuel imports from third countries
Before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Germany was Europe's largest importer of Russian gas. In 2021, Russia supplied 34% of Germany's crude oil, and 53% of the hard coal received by German power generators and steelmakers was from Russia. However, following the invasion, Germany decided to wean itself off Russian oil and gas, leading to a phase-out of Russian gas imports and an abrupt cut-off of gas supplies from Russia.
To compensate for the loss of Russian fuel supplies, Germany has secured contracts with other suppliers and invested in the necessary infrastructure to receive liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments by sea. In 2023, Germany imported 48.6% of its gas via pipelines from Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. LNG terminals in neighbouring countries, such as Austria, Switzerland, and Italy, also supply gas to Germany, although it can be difficult to attribute the origin of the gas due to the mixing of supplies from different sources.
The European Union's ban on the import of refined petroleum products from Russia, implemented in February 2023, further impacted Germany's fuel import landscape. While Germany has historically relied heavily on imported fossil fuels, the current global energy crisis and geopolitical tensions have accelerated the transition to renewable energy sources. The rapid expansion of renewable energy is expected to reduce Europe's dependence on fuel imports and reshape the geopolitical landscape in the energy sector.
Overall, Germany's fuel imports from third countries have played a crucial role in ensuring energy security and reducing dependence on Russian fuel supplies. The country has successfully substituted a significant portion of its energy supply from Russia with imports from other countries, demonstrating its ability to adapt and secure alternative sources of energy.
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Germany's sanctions on Russian fuel
Germany imported 55% of its gas from Russia before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In the wake of the invasion, there was a heated debate in Germany about whether to embargo the import of Russian natural gas as a sanction against Russia. Germany decided to wean itself off Russian oil and gas, and Russia also cut off gas supplies to Germany. In August 2024, Germany imported no Russian natural gas, showing that the country had successfully ended its reliance on Russian gas.
Germany blocked the first-ever sanctions on Russian gas in June 2024, torpedoing a deal on the eve of an international peace conference on Ukraine. The sanctions were to be a 14th package backed by EU member countries, which would ban countries from re-exporting Russian LNG from EU ports and financing planned Arctic and Baltic LNG terminals. Germany was worried about broadening a measure that would force EU companies to ensure their customers do not sell sanctioned goods to Moscow, and that their small businesses would suffer if the sanctions were expanded to more civilian products.
Germany has taken emergency energy measures to secure contracts with other suppliers and build terminals to receive liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments by sea. In November 2024, Germany refused to allow a Russian LNG shipment to be unloaded at the Brunsbüttel terminal, citing the need to protect the country's "overriding public interests". It is speculated that Russian LNG may have flowed through German networks via a company called SEFE Energy GmbH, a state-owned gas importer formerly known as Wingas and based in the town of Kassel.
Despite Germany's success in reducing its reliance on Russian gas, there is a debate about reviving the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream pipelines, which were destroyed in 2022. Politicians from both the ruling Social Democrats and Christian Democrats have debated this, although Friedrich Merz has pushed to sanction the subsea links. Protesters, including workers from the nearby PCK oil refinery, have demanded an end to the embargo of Russian oil imports. Elsewhere, countries like the Czech Republic have upgraded their oil pipeline infrastructure to supply their refineries with non-Russian fuels, but it would still be easy for them to switch back to Russian crude.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2021, Russia was Germany's main supplier of oil, gas and hard coal. In December 2021, Germany imported 5.2 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Russia.
Yes, Germany continued to import fuel from Russia after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, imports decreased substantially due to sanctions and the war’s impact on trade and infrastructure.
Germany stopped direct imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2024. However, Germany continued to receive Russian LNG via intermediary ports in other European countries, such as Belgium, France and the Netherlands.
It is estimated that between 3% and 9.2% of Germany's gas supply still originates from Russia as of 2024.
Oil is Germany's most important primary energy source, covering 35.9% of the country's primary energy use in 2023. Germany imported 88.2 million tonnes of crude oil in 2022, with Russia being the largest supplier delivering 34.1% of imports.
