Lex Delles has confirmed Luxembourg’s energy security

Against the backdrop of the escalating situation in the Middle East, Economy Minister Lex Delles has analysed the risks facing the country’s energy sector. In his view, the current situation differs radically from the crisis of 2022. Whereas Europe was then critically dependent on a single supplier — Russia — hydrocarbon imports are now significantly diversified, and the network of LNG terminals and full storage facilities provide the necessary margin of safety.

At present, the government has no plans to introduce new financial support measures for the public similar to those adopted two years ago. The minister put forward a number of arguments in favour of a measured approach:

• The current price of diesel remains 40–50 cents per litre below the peak levels seen in 2022.
• Energy suppliers in Luxembourg purchase gas three years in advance, which smooths out short-term market fluctuations for end consumers.
• Neither the European Commission nor the International Energy Agency (IEA) has identified any risk of disruptions to petrol or gas supplies.

Luxembourg has joined the IEA’s coordinated effort to stabilise markets by agreeing to release around 8,000 barrels of oil from its strategic reserves. This figure is equivalent to the country’s daily consumption. Overall, the Grand Duchy has reserves sufficient for 93 days, part of which is stored on national territory, whilst the majority is held at specialised facilities abroad. The Minister emphasised that this step is an act of solidarity and poses no risk to the internal security of supply.

During the discussion on long-term sustainability, Delles reaffirmed Luxembourg’s commitment to renewable energy sources. The government has simplified the requirements for the construction of wind turbines along motorways and in industrial zones, and has also introduced pre-financing schemes for photovoltaic installations.

The minister took a clear stance against the use of nuclear energy, countering Ursula von der Leyen’s statements. The main counterarguments remain safety concerns and the unresolved issue of radioactive waste disposal. According to Delles, switching to nuclear energy would merely replace one dependency with another, as uranium is not mined in Europe. The strategic priority remains the combination of renewable energy sources with the development of energy storage technologies.