Russia warns of rising electricity prices if energy transition is hasty

The hasty transition from fossil fuels risks raising electricity prices, a senior Russian official said on Wednesday, responding to comments from the German government that the EU carbon tax could make renewables more energy-efficient. in Russia.

Russian Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Snikkars said Russia was ready to support international efforts against the negative effects of climate change, but noted that any transition to RES should be gradual.

“We are not prepared for sharp price volatility in the electricity sector, so we will move more gradually on the issue of RES,” Snikkars told Reuters in a written response.

Some skeptics of the rapid shift to RES believe that reducing investment in fossil fuels will lead to higher prices. Proponents, for their part, argue that RES will provide cheaper energy.

Russia’s energy exports to Europe have been in the spotlight due to winter price increases and supply disputes, at a time when relations between Moscow and the West are at their worst since the Cold War. of the Ukrainian issue.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressed the view at the weekend that the European Union-proposed border carbon tax would encourage Russia to switch to RES.

She said it would be a “blessing” to work with Russia on green energy. Baerbock has previously said that Moscow is using energy prices to “blackmail” Europe, which receives about a third of its gas from Russia.

Russia’s state-owned electricity company Inter RAO expects electricity exports to double in 2021 to more than 21 billion kilowatt hours.

Source: Capital

You may also like