Spain on Wednesday rejected the European Commission鈥檚 demands for EU states to reduce their natural gas use by 15% by next spring in fear of Russia cutting supply to the bloc.
鈥淲hatever happens, Spanish families will not have their gas or electricity cut. Whatever happens, Spain will defend the position of Spanish industry,鈥� Environment Minister Teresa Ribera told a news conference.
While she said Spain 鈥渄eeply regretted鈥� having to disagree with the EU, she slammed Brussels for the lack of debate and transparency around the plan.
For the moment, the proposal only means a legally non-binding recommendation for EU member states to voluntarily reduce their gas consumption.
However, the EU Commission鈥檚 Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans said 鈥渋f the situation gets worse鈥� the European Commission will be able to ask for mandatory cuts from EU member states if the draft passes.
鈥淪pain has done its homework in terms of diversified energy. It鈥檚 done it consistently and paying a higher price than other European partners,鈥� Ribera said. 鈥淓very country鈥檚 situation is unique and is the result of historic efforts that have been paid for by consumers.鈥�
Ribera explained that Spain is home to around one-third of all the EU鈥檚 liquefied natural gas storage and refining capacity and has invested heavily in alternative energy sources like renewables.
She complained that Spain has been asking the EU to live up to its commitments around energy interconnections for two decades.
鈥淒espite this demand, there was profound inaction on the EU鈥檚 part. That鈥檚 why the Iberian Peninsula is virtually an energetic island, which also limits our ability to help other EU countries.鈥�
She added that Spain鈥檚 energy reserves are 80% full, compared to around 50% in the rest of Europe.
鈥淯nlike other countries, we haven鈥檛 been living above our means in terms of energy," she added.
鈥淲e want to help 鈥� but we want an honest debate instead of imposing solutions that we don鈥檛 think are fair or effective.鈥�
By Alyssa McMurtry
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr