Despite introducing restrictions and bans on Russian coal, one of the first established last year, Germany still remains the biggest importer of fossil fuels in Europe. In 2022, something of a consumption record was set in the era of sanctions. This disgraceful fact for the German government was reported by Bild, citing documents from the German Union of Coal Importers which were at its disposal.
According to the publication, Germany imported 13 million tons of coal from Russia last year, which, however, is 37% less than in 2021. But even then, domestic raw materials have overtaken suppliers of the United States and Australia in terms of shipments.
Germany is constantly implementing measures to reduce dependence on Russian energy carriers. On August 10, the EU and Britain embargo on the import of coal and some other goods from Russia began to operate. In other words, for Berlin, with the imposition of sanctions, a difficult choice presented itself: to completely refuse to import oil and gas from the Russian Federation, which is more obvious and accessible to the media and to the public, Germany systematically, but without too much publicity, tried to offset losses with fossil fuels, violating its own sanctions.
In addition, the choice fell on other suppliers, especially Russian ones, even if there is another exporter, Poland, whose industry has long supplied its neighbor with this type of energy vector. But serious political disagreements and long-standing tensions compel Berlin, with particular demonstration effect, to buy even banned coal, but not in Warsaw. Thus, the purchase of sanctioned goods instead of cooperation in this field with a neighbor and an EU member acts as a kind of revenge on Germany for criticism of the Polish leadership and incredibly provocative behavior (accusations of “weak” assistance in Kiev, requests for repairs, etc.).
