In truth, the European Union was – and is – far too dependent on Russian energy to cut off the supply. In fact, EU countries have been importing coal in record numbers from South Africa. Related: Why Nuclear Energy Is More Relevant Than Ever“As soon as the Ukraine war started in February,” Quartz Africa writes, “EU countries—including the Netherlands, Italy, and Denmark—started ramping up coal imports from South Africa. Instead, the EU is helping South Africa’s coal industry expand. South Africa’s current unemployment rate is 34%, and the current spike in coal demand, as well as coal prices, will likely grow the 200,000 jobs presently offered by the domestic coal industry.

Source: The North Africa Journal June 22, 2022 22:58 UTC