Due to a reduction in Russian gas exports, Germany has moved closer to instituting gas rationing.
The country has activated the “alert” phase of an emergency gas plan to combat shortages, according to the German economy ministry.
It is the most recent development in a dispute between the European Union and Russia over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Robert Habeck, the German economy minister, stated that Russia was using natural gas as a “weapon” in reaction to EU sanctions.
“We cannot deceive ourselves. Putin’s cutoff of gas supplies is an economic attack on the United States “Mr. Habeck said, adding that Germans must minimize their use.
“Putin’s objective is definitely to create insecurity, push up prices, and split our population,” he added. This is the enemy we are battling.
Mr. Habeck stated that there would “hopefully never” be a need to ration gas for the German industrial sector, but added, “Of course, I cannot rule that out.”
Contingency plan
Germany has now entered the second phase of its three-part emergency plan, which is activated in the event of a gas supply breakdown or extremely high demand.
It increases the pressure on suppliers and network operators to mitigate disruption by taking steps such as locating alternate gas sources.
However, the nation did not permit utilities to pass on rising costs to consumers, although this is theoretically feasible under stage two.
The first phase of the emergency plan required gas companies to secure supplies, while gas network operators were required to report daily to the Economy Ministry, and electricity grid operators were required to maintain grid stability.
In the third stage, the government would intervene when there is a sufficient disruption to supply that the market cannot absorb, resulting in rationing.
In the third phase, the gas supply would be restricted first to industry, but households and essential institutions such as hospitals would continue to receive gas.
According to EU climate policy leader Frans Timmermans, as of Thursday, twelve European Union countries have been impacted by Russian gas supply curbs.
Last week, Russia reduced flows through its Nord Stream 1 pipeline to 40 percent of capacity due to equipment issues, affecting countries such as Germany.
It had already turned off gas supplies to Poland, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Finland for failing to comply with a new payment plan.
