據路透社2023年7月17日報道，一份文件草案顯示，歐盟時下正在考慮從阿根廷進口天然氣，天然氣凈進口國阿根廷計劃擴大國內天然氣生產。

雙方計劃于周一簽署的諒解備忘錄草案稱，任何天然氣貿易都不應影響阿根廷自身的消費需求，以及雙方遏制氣候變化的目標。

路透社看到的這份文件草案稱，“參與者努力合作，以實現從阿根廷向歐盟穩定交付液化天然氣”。這份文件可能會在公布前進行修改。

歐盟委員會（European Commission）拒絕就這份文件草案置評。

阿根廷能源短缺，這意味著它需要在消耗最多的月份進口燃料。去年，阿根廷的能源貿易逆差為50億美元。

但是，這個擁有世界第二大非常規天然氣儲量的國家，正在擴大位于巴塔哥尼亞(Patagonia)頁巖地層瓦卡姆爾塔頁巖遠景區的頁巖氣產量。

但歐盟也預計，在尋求實現氣候變化目標的過程中，到本十年結束前，其天然氣使用量將下降。歐盟表示，大部分天然氣供應應該用清潔能源取代，而不是化石燃料。

獨立氣候智庫E3G項目負責人麗莎·費舍爾呼吁歐盟重點支持阿根廷發展可再生能源和其他不會導致氣候變化的解決方案。

費舍爾說：“當阿根廷的天然氣投入使用時，他們甚至沒有完整的出口基礎設施來向歐洲出口天然氣，我認為歐盟將不再需要這些天然氣?！?/p>

文件草案稱，雙方將在可再生能源和氫燃料領域開展合作，并努力減少天然氣供應鏈中的甲烷排放。

李峻 譯自 路透社

原文如下：

EU considers gas imports from Argentina

The European Union is considering possible gas imports from Argentina, which is a net gas importer but plans to expand domestic production, a draft document showed.

A draft memorandum of understanding, which the two sides plan to sign on Monday, said any gas trade should not impact Argentina's own consumption needs, and the two sides' targets to curb climate change.

"The participants endeavor to cooperate towards enabling a stable delivery of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Argentina to the European Union," said the document, seen by Reuters, which could be changed before it is published.

The European Commission declined to comment on the draft.

Argentina has an energy deficit, meaning it needs to import fuel during the months when it consumes the most. It registered a $5-B energy trade balance deficit in 2022.

But the country, which has the world's second largest unconventional gas reserves, is expanding production at Vaca Muerta, a shale formation in Patagonia.

But the EU also expects its gas use to fall by the end of the decade as it seeks to meet climate change goals. It has said the majority of gas supplies should be replaced with clean sources of energy, not fossil fuels.

Lisa Fischer, Program Lead at climate think tank E3G, called on the EU to focus on supporting Argentina in developing renewable energy and other solutions that do not cause climate change.

"By the time the Argentinean gas comes online - and they don't even have the full export infrastructure to do so [to export gas to Europe] - I don't think the European Union will need that gas any longer," Fischer said.

The draft document said the two sides would work together in the areas of renewable energy and hydrogen fuel, and endeavor to cut methane emissions in their gas supply chains.