According to the minister, Ukraine offers large volumes of biogas. However, regulatory challenges still exist from Ukraine and the EU.
Germany intends to increase its own gas production and is also considering purchasing biogas from Ukraine. As reported by Bigmir.net, German Economy Minister Katherine Reiche stated this, as reported by Spiegel. The portal PromPolitInform reports.
“Germany has its own reserves. Gas can be extracted here,” she stated.
According to Reiche, Germany recently opened the door for the Netherlands to explore a gas field in the North Sea.
“Despite all the legitimate concerns about marine environmental protection, this should also be possible from the German side,” the minister noted.
Reiche added that simply handing over unpopular projects to neighboring countries is not a sustainable solution in the long term. The key question is whether gas can be extracted on favorable terms. “We must discuss this, especially in times of resource scarcity, especially in such challenging geopolitical times. A careful balance must be struck between environmental interests and resource security—both are legitimate concerns,” she stated.
It is noted that the German government, a coalition of Christian Democrats and Social Democrats, intends to allow increased use of gas for heating, including biogas.
The parliamentary factions of the ruling coalition have reached an agreement on this issue as part of a reform of the heating law. This will significantly ease the regulations for homeowners replacing their heating systems: the current requirement to use at least 65% renewable energy for heating will be abolished.
To meet the planned green gas quota, heating systems must operate with an increasing share of biomethane and synthetic fuels.
Reiche proposes importing green gas from Ukraine.
“Biomethane is available, produced domestically, and already sold on the market. Where there is demand, a market will form,” the minister stated. According to her, Ukraine offers large volumes of biogas. At the same time, regulatory challenges still exist on the part of Ukraine and the EU.
“But once these are resolved, we can expect significant biomethane imports,” Reiche added.
Germany also reportedly has abundant natural gas reserves in the North Sea.
However, the extraction of these shale gas deposits using the controversial fracking method, which extracts natural gas from deep rock formations using chemicals and pressure, has been banned in Germany since 2017, as it is considered a risk, particularly to groundwater.
As a reminder, the Ukrainian parliament unblocked biogas exports to Europe in 2024.
