EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen warned on Tuesday that the global diesel supply shortage is unlikely to ease before late 2027, following a meeting with European refinery representatives in Brussels. Speaking to reporters after the talks, Jorgensen said geopolitical turbulence had once again pushed Europe into an energy crisis, with crude oil and petroleum product prices rising sharply worldwide — reminiscent of the early days of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Jorgensen stressed that rapidly climbing fuel bills were placing a heavy burden on both companies and households across the EU. "We know this winter will be difficult. It will be hard for our citizens and for the economy as a whole," he said, adding that ensuring reliable and affordable fuel supply remained a strategic priority.
The Commissioner noted that roughly one quarter of EU refineries had shut down over the past two decades, reducing the bloc's refining capacity by around 10 percent. He warned that investment withdrawal from the sector was accelerating. "This crisis is a wake-up call. We must reverse this trend and ensure we have adequate and flexible refining capacity in Europe today and in the future," Jorgensen said.
While no immediate supply security crisis is anticipated, Jorgensen underlined that this did not resolve the affordability problem. "If people cannot afford to buy fuel, it makes no difference to them that it is available on the market," he said. He added that a targeted and temporary relaxation of certain technical requirements could be considered, provided it did not create new problems.
Looking ahead, Jorgensen said refineries and new market entrants must shift toward greater production of biofuels and e-fuels. He noted that renewable liquid fuel output was already compensating for part of the decline in refining capacity. A joint roadmap aligned with climate goals will be developed to guide the sector's transformation, he announced, with technical-level work to continue and a follow-up meeting scheduled for early 2026.
