“Gas is now a scarce commodity in Germany,” said Robert Habeck, Minister of Economy and Climate, during a press conference. Security of supply is still guaranteed, but whether it will remain so is uncertain. “The current situation should not give us a false sense of security,” the minister said.
Now 60 percent less gas
And so Germans have to reduce their gas consumption. Winter is coming and it’s important to be well prepared for it, Habeck said.
The decision to go to phase 2 in the gas emergency plan (pdf) following the partial shutdown of the gas supply. Earlier this month, Russia decided 60 percent less gas to be delivered via Nord Stream 1. High gas prices on the market also influence the decision to take the next step, Habeck said.
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Fill gas storage as soon as possible
If Nord Stream 1 closes completely, it will be more difficult for Germany to fill the gas storages on time. This increases the risk of an energy crisis in the winter for the main economy in the EU.
The Germans now want to fill the gas storage as quickly as possible. They are currently 58 percent full. If deliveries via Nord Stream 1 remain at 40 percent, it will already be difficult to fill the storage 90 percent before December, the ministry says.
It remains to be seen whether gas will continue to flow through the pipeline at all. Resources within the ministry say to the Financial Times that the Russians are expected to completely shut down the pipeline under the guise of ‘maintenance’.
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Green energy
“The reduction in gas supply is an economic attack on us by Putin,” Habeck said. “We will defend ourselves against this.”
The German government is not yet prepared to amend the law so that energy companies can pass on price increases directly to customers. But consumers should expect to pay more anyway, Habeck said.
In addition, the German government is also putting its hand into its own bosom. “It was a political mistake not to build renewable energy in the past, that must be rectified immediately,” the minister said.
Dutch storage 50 percent full
Other countries could also suffer from the shutdown of Nord Stream 1. The pipeline is one of the two main supply lines of Russian gas to Europe.
In the Netherlands, the cabinet decided last week to shut down the coal-fired power stations to run at full power in the near future to prevent households from being left out in the cold this winter. This is part of a crisis plan to prevent a gas shortage.
The Dutch gas storage facilities are now almost 50 percent full. The goal is to reach 80 percent.
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