Click play to listen to this article
BERLIN – The German government formally put its energy market at war on Thursday over a sharp reduction in gas supplies to Russia, telling households to cut consumption and warning that industrial production will be affected.
Announcing the second phase of its three-stage alert system, a stop before a total emergency where the government would take control of energy distribution and rationed gas supply, German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck to say it was time to take the consequences of supply cuts seriously. after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“We must not deceive ourselves, cutting off the gas supply is an economic attack on us [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, “Habeck said.” It’s clearly Putin’s strategy to create insecurity, raise prices, and divide us as a society. “
He called on German households to “make a difference” and change their consumption habits, but did not allow energy suppliers to pass on the rising costs to households.
“I know sometimes that sounds trivial, but you always have to multiply that triviality by 41 million homes,” Habeck said.
Last week, Berlin reported a sharp cut in gas deliveries via Russia’s Nord Stream submarine gas pipeline to Germany. Italy and France also reported cuts to their usual Russian gas imports through Germany, which placed them on a long list of European countries to which supplies have been cut or stopped altogether.
The mayor of the German coastal resort of Lubmin, Axel Vogt, puts in front of a container an information point decorated with a map showing the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline | John Macdougall / AFP via Getty Images
Russia insists Nord Stream cuts are due to pipeline maintenance work and has blamed Canadian contractors for the problems, but Habeck and other European leaders say the measures are a political ploy.
The pipeline will close next month so Russia says maintenance is needed, which also happened last July.
On Sunday, Habeck announced national contingency plans that include the supply of electricity from the coal-fired power plants that had been put on hold, a “bitter” step according to the Greens’ co-leader, while establishing a plan to reward companies. that save gas.
Germany and other EU countries are trying to fill gas warehouses before the winter heating season, making it more difficult for Russia to squeeze supplies; the European Commission wants warehouses to be 80% full by 1 November.
Habeck’s ministry said Thursday that national gas storage facilities are currently 58 percent full, more than at the same time last year; the goal is to reach 90% by December.
“Filling the gas storage is now the top priority,” Habeck said. “All consumers, whether in industry, public institutions or private households, should reduce their gas consumption as much as possible so that we can spend the winter.”
The German government has also established a 15 billion-euro line of credit to pay for non-Russian supplies.
This article is part of POLITICO Pro
The one-stop solution for political professionals that fuses the depth of POLITICO journalism with the power of technology
Exclusives, news and knowledge
Custom policy intelligence platform
A high-level public affairs network