By Canadian Press

Canada can help Europe turn to renewables instead of Russian oil: Guilbeault

Mar 9, 2022 | 12:27 PM

OTTAWA — Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says Canada cannot realistically help Europe replace its Russian oil imports with Canadian crude or natural gas, but it can and is looking at ways to export renewable energy like hydrogen.

Europe relies on Russia for about one-third of its oil supplies and more than 40 per cent of its natural gas.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is pushing the continent to cut off that dependency as soon as possible but finding alternative sources is not simple.

Guilbeault says the infrastructure is not there for Canada to get oil and gas to Europe easily and even if it could, European refineries aren’t set up to process the heavy crude Canada produces.

But he says there are ways Canada can work with Europe quickly on exports of clean and renewable energy like hydrogen, which the continent was already starting to move toward.

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His comments echo statements made in Germany earlier today by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who said he is hopeful Canada can help supply Germany with the hydrogen it will need to become a zero-emissions country by 2045.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 9, 2022.

The Canadian Press