Report: EC choses 14 gas projects to ease dependence on Russia

BERLIN, Feb 9 (PRIME) -- The European Commission has chosen 14 priority gas distribution projects, which will help the E.U. ease dependence on natural gas supplies from Russia, which provides 40% of Europe’s needs, German weekly Spiegel reported Tuesday referring to a government source.

The goal of the projects is to improve infrastructure to allow any E.U. country to receive gas from many countries. The initiative, which promotes energy security and competition on the E.U. gas market, will be presented on Wednesday by European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Canete, Spiegel reported.

Speeding up of construction of a liquefied natural gas terminal in Croatia, pipelines to Hungary, construction of several pipelines to link Finland and the Baltic states with the E.U. gas transportation network, and expansion of pipeline networks of Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece are among the priority projects, the weekly said.

The E.U. has to allocate funds on the projects’ implementation.

The European Commission also said it plans to check future intergovernmental energy agreements and supply contracts.

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