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Germany says ‘gas is now SCARCE’ and raises threat level to ‘alarm’ as Berlin admits dwindling deliveries from Russia have caused a supply ‘crisis’
- Germany said Russia is using gas ‘as a weapon’ in retaliation against the West
- The next stage under Germany’s emergency plan would see gas rations
- Last week, Gazprom reduced Nord Stream supplies to Germany by 60 per cent
Germany says gas is ‘now a scarce commodity’ and has raised the alert level to ‘alarm’ under its emergency plan due to dwindling supplies from Russia.
Triggering phase two brings Germany a step closer to the third and final stage that could see gas rationing in Europe’s top economy.
‘Gas is now a scarce commodity in Germany,’ Economy Minister Robert Habeck told reporters, as he declared a national ‘crisis’.
Germany activated the second phase of its three-stage emergency plan for natural gas supplies saying the country faces a ‘crisis’
Economy Minister Robert Habeck (pictured today) said Russia was using gas ‘as a weapon’ against Germany
Russia was using gas ‘as a weapon’ against Germany in retaliation for the West’s support for Ukraine following Moscow’s invasion, Habeck said.
Germany, like a number of other European countries, is highly reliant on Russian energy imports to meet its needs.
Russian energy giant Gazprom last week significantly reduced supplies via the Nord Stream pipeline to Germany by 60 percent due to what the company said was a delayed repair.
While gas storage facilities are currently filled to 58 per cent capacity in Germany — higher than at this time last year — the goal of reaching 90 per cent by December won’t be achievable without further measures.
A Uniper coal-fired power plant and a BP refinery steam are seen beside a wind generator in Gelsenkirchen
Germany, like a number of other European countries, is highly reliant on Russian energy imports to meet its needs
The second ‘alarm’ level under the government’s emergency plan reflected a ‘significant deterioration of the gas supply situation’, Habeck said.
At the ‘alarm’ level, Germany is still considered to be in a position to ‘manage’ the situation for the time being.
Habeck said that households ‘can make a difference’ by saving energy, as Germany launches a campaign to encourage gas saving measures.
Germany has managed to reduce the share of its natural gas supplied by Russia from 55 per cent before the invasion to around 35 per cent.
Europe’s largest economy has also sought new sources of supply, and accelerated plans to import gas into the country by sea in the form of LNG.
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