Austria is looking to diversify its energy sources by strengthening renewable power generation and increasing natural gas imports from Africa, as European countries attempt to avoid excessive reliance on U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) while reshaping their post-Russian energy landscape.
Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of an energy security meeting in Paris, Austria’s State Secretary for Energy Elisabeth Zehetner said Vienna is carefully assessing supply routes to ensure it does not exchange one form of dependency for another. Her remarks come as European Union member states work toward phasing out Russian gas imports by 2027 following Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
“The U.S. is not predictable in these times, so for Austria we are really looking closely to ensure we have LNG from different sources,” Zehetner said, emphasizing that energy diversification has become a strategic priority for the country.
European governments have been grappling with the dual challenge of maintaining affordable electricity prices while securing stable energy supplies. The shift away from Russian gas has led many countries to increase LNG purchases from the United States, but concerns are growing in some capitals that this trend could create a new long-term dependency.
Zehetner made her comments during a gathering of ministers from 38 member states of the International Energy Agency (IEA), where energy security and the role of renewables dominated discussions. According to her, the majority of participating ministers reaffirmed their commitment to expanding domestic renewable energy capacity, describing it as both cost-effective and strategically reliable.
“Domestic generation is more reliable than any kind of imports,” she said, while acknowledging that natural gas will remain a necessary component of Europe’s energy mix for decades. “The question is how we live with these dependencies,” she added.
Austria is exploring the possibility of increasing gas imports from African suppliers through the Transmed pipeline, which connects North Africa to Italy, as well as future supplies from Romania’s Neptun Deep gas field in the Black Sea. The offshore project is being developed by Austrian energy company OMV and is expected to begin production next year. Austria already sources gas from Norway, the United States, and Qatar.
When asked about the prospect of resuming Russian gas imports in the event of a political settlement, Zehetner indicated that Austria would prefer to rely on renewable energy partnerships, particularly with Ukraine. However, she left open the possibility that limited Russian gas could be reconsidered if a peace agreement acceptable to Kyiv were reached.
“Concerning the role of Russia, we have learned our lesson, so we do not want to be dependent on anyone,” she said, underscoring Vienna’s broader strategy of balancing diversification, renewables expansion, and pragmatic energy security planning.
