Germany plans to offset the cut in Russian gas supplies by increasing the combustion of coal, the most carbon-fossil fossil fuel.
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Germany says deteriorating gas market situation means Europe’s largest economy must limit the use of natural gas for electricity production and burn more coal during a “transition period” .
Economy Minister Robert Habeck warned on Sunday that the situation would be “very tight in the winter” with no precautionary measures to prevent supply shortages.
As a result, Germany will try to offset the cut in Russian gas supplies by increasing coal combustion, the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel in terms of emissions, and therefore the most important substitution goal in the transition to alternatives. renewable.
“This is bitter, but it is almost necessary in this situation to reduce gas consumption. We must and will do everything possible to store as much gas as possible in summer and autumn,” said Habeck of the Green Party. in a statement, according to a statement. translation.
“Gas storage tanks should be full in the winter. This is a top priority,” he added.
This comes shortly after an ominous warning from Russia’s energy giant Gazprom allayed fears of a total supply disruption to the European Union.
Gazprom said last week that it had further limited supplies through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea.
German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said that “the tense situation and high prices are a direct consequence of Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine.”
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Gazprom cited a technical problem with the power outage, saying the problem stemmed from the delay in returning equipment provided by Siemens Energy from Germany to Canada.
Habeck rejected the claim, saying the measure was politically motivated and was designed to unsettle the region and raise gas prices.
It is not yet known when or if Nord Stream 1 gas flows will return to normal levels.
“Our product, our rules”
In heated comments that have likely sounded alarms in European capitals, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said on Thursday that Russia would follow its own rules after the company halved supplies to Germany.
“Our product, our rules. We don’t play with rules we didn’t create,” Miller told a roundtable at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, according to The Moscow Times.
Italy, Austria and Slovakia have also reported supply reductions from Russia.
European policymakers are currently struggling to fill underground storage with natural gas supplies to provide homes with enough fuel to keep the lights on and houses warm before the cold returns.
The EU, which receives about 40 percent of its gas through the Russian pipeline, is trying to quickly reduce its dependence on Russian oil in response to the Kremlin’s attack on Ukraine for months.
“The tense situation and high prices are a direct consequence of Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine. There is no mistake. Moreover, it is clear that it is Putin’s strategy to worry us, to raise prices. and to divide us. We will not allow that. To defend ourselves with determination, precision and reflection, “Habeck said.
Storage facilities in Germany are currently at around 56% capacity, above storage levels from the same period last year, Habeck said.
“Missing quantities can still be replaced, and gas storage tanks are still being filled, albeit at high prices. Security of supply is currently guaranteed but the situation is serious,” he added.