New gas field in Austria: Not enough to end Russian dependency

When Austria recently discovered a gas field that could fulfill the whole country's needs for three years, many were hoping Austria would free itself from Russian gas imports. But according to energy analyst Ana Subasic, the reservoir located 1,500 meters below the Alpine village of Molln won't put an end to the country's image as Moscow's last energy ally in Europe, at least not yet.

"This new gas discovery is very significant because it can boost domestic production in the longer term. But it is not the entire formula. Austria will also have to look into LNG and more imports from non-Russian sources of supply," Subasic told CGTN.

READ MORE

Chinese Wasabi highlight at food fair

Portugal's cork industry touts green credentials

Xpeng expands european footprint

While most other EU members cut Gazprom imports to zero after the start of the Ukraine conflict, the Alpine republic still runs 98 percent on gas from Moscow, Austria's climate ministry confirmed. Apart from Hungary, no other member country is as dependent on Russian gas.

Meanwhile, the exploration company ADX is verifying whether the gas in Molln is actually extractable. "It is a huge structure and it could hold a lot of gas," operations manager Tim Stoll told CGTN.

How soon this natural gas can be extracted depends on permits fiercely opposed by environmental campaigners, given the reservoir's proximity to the 'Kalkalpen' national park. 

"You will not have one drilling site, but 10, 15 or 20 drilling sites," says conservationist Bernhard from Austria's Naturschutzbund. "And this is a problem because then you will have an industrial area here in the national park region."

It will take at least three years for authorities to issue exploration permits, providing that the protests are unsuccessful. Until then Austria will remain energy dependent on Moscow.

Subscribe to Storyboard: A weekly newsletter bringing you the best of CGTN every Friday

Cover image: Since the 2022 escalation in Ukraine, Austria has been trying to end its strong economic ties with Russia. /CGTN/Schmid