Press Release – Ministers for energy discussed future of European gas market in Prague – 11 October 2022

How to best coordinate and streamline efforts leading to enhanced energy security and better future resilience of the EU´s gas market. That was discussed by energy ministers and key stakeholders at the eve of the Informal Energy Council taking pace in Prague.  Czech Minister of Industry and Trade, Jozef Síkela, and GasNaturally’s co-chair, François-Régis Mouton, also signed a Joint Statement on increasing the EU’s energy independence and resilience.

Faced with the consequences of the current unprecedented geopolitical turmoil, it is our joint utmost priority to increase security of gas supply and decrease energy dependence. Our aim as an incumbent Presidency is to solve the energy crisis“ says Minister Síkela and  adds: „We want to facilitate systematic solutions promoting gas supply diversification, encouraging energy savings, and accelerating the deployment of low carbon and renewable gases and hydrogen.”

“We welcome the signature of this Joint Statement by political and industry stakeholders. At the moment, the diversification of gas imports into the EU will and must be one of our main objectives as an industry“ says Co-chair of GasNaturally Francois-Regis Mouton. „At the same time, it is also important to continue on the path we have taken. We must and will continue to demonstrate that we are a part of the future by helping to shape the fields of hydrogen and renewable gases. As an industry we are solution-oriented, we take responsibility and can pull together with policy makers.”

Signatories to the joint statement support the EU’s ambition to increase its energy independence alongside the implementation of the Green Deal objectives. To deliver on the secure and just energy transition towards climate neutrality holistically, the gas sector requires fit-for-purpose investments, the uptake of innovative technologies, and an enabling regulatory framework.