Ukraine Crisis Should Accelerate EU Shift To Clean Energy, CEO of Fuel Refiner Says

摘要

Europe's concern about its reliance on Russian fossil fuels may spur governments to prioritize alternative energy, the head of Neste Oil Oyj said. "In Europe we don't have crude or gas resources, so we are heavily dependent on other countries, such as Russia," said Chief Executive Officer Matti Lievonen, whose Finland-based company makes clean diesel and jet fuel from feedstocks such as vegetable oils and animal fats. "I really hope that the Russia-Ukraine situation is a strong element in the politicians' decision-making around the setting of mandates." The U.S. and European Union have imposed sanctions against Russia over its alleged involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. Europe is trying to ease its dependence on Russia, which supplied almost one-third of its crude oil and natural gas in 2012 and a quarter of its solid fuels, according to European Commission statistics.