Domestic gas storage tanks are 13 percent full, which is the average for recent years. Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) and Climate Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) pledged to do everything to ensure gas supplies for Austrian households and businesses. 80 percent of gas deliveries in Austria come from Russia.
With the early warning level, the gas market monitoring and monitoring system will be even stricter, the ministry said. However, energy control measures such as rationing will not come for the time being – they are only planned from level three. Last Thursday, the National Council decided to create a strategic gas reserve. It will cost around €1.6 billion to €2 billion – depending on the price of gas – and will be available from November this year.
Early warning level for gas proclaimed
Austria declared the early warning level in the emergency plan for gas supplies. Germany did the same.
Germany is at the forefront
The German Economy Ministry had already announced the early warning level of its gas emergency plan in the morning. This is intended to protect the Federal Republic against escalation by Russia and therefore a weaker gas supply. Security of supply remains guaranteed. However, from now on all gas consumers – from companies to individuals – are obliged to reduce their consumption as much as possible.
The German level of early warning means that a crisis team will meet at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, made up of authorities and energy providers. Gas suppliers and pipeline operators are required to regularly assess the situation for the German government.
SPÖ and NEOS warnings
After the German move, SPÖ and NEOS asked the local government to act as well. “While our neighbor Germany is prepared for a possible freeze on gas supplies from Russia and is reacting as a precaution to protect the population and economy, Minister Gewessler obviously misjudges the gravity of the situation and has no plans,” the SPÖ said. NEOS asked: “What are Austria’s plans for a possible gas supply shutdown?”
Reuters/Heinz-Peter Bader Baumgarten gas distribution station in Lower Austria
Payment in rubles not immediately
The backdrop for the activation of emergency plans is the government’s requirement in Moscow that gas deliveries be paid for in rubles only. The West rejects this. Payment in euros or dollars has been agreed in current contracts. The payment in rubles was due to take effect on Thursday. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s instruction to switch to ruble payments is not yet valid for this Thursday, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday. Delivery of gas and payment are separate processes.
Putin wants to meet with representatives of Russian gas giant Gazprom and the central bank on Thursday to be briefed on the current state of affairs. The announced meeting and the refusal of Western countries to switch to the ruble sparked fears in Europe that Russia could quickly shut off gas supplies. Peskow also said that if no payments were made, no gas would arrive. Russia is not a charity.
Schneider, ORF correspondent, on security of supply
ORF correspondent Carola Schneider informs about the security of Russian gas supply in connection with the launch of the early warning system.
Russia wants to switch to ruble payments because of Western sanctions after the war in Ukraine because, according to Putin, the country can no longer do anything with euros and dollars. According to sources, Russia does not want to change the prices agreed in the supply contracts if the ruble is changed. For example, in the case of contracts concluded in euros, the payment must be based on the euro/rouble exchange rate set by the Russian central bank. The proposal is just one of several scenarios discussed.
Netherlands still does not activate emergency plan
The Netherlands does not yet want to activate its gas emergency plan. However, the population is being asked to reduce gas consumption, Economy Ministry spokesman Tim van Dijk said on Wednesday. The emergency plan is only activated “when there really is a bottleneck or the risk of this happening is high”.
According to the European Commission, it is prepared for possible interruptions in gas supplies from Russia. “We are prepared for anything and we will also work very closely with member states so that everyone can prepare well for this situation,” European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said in Brussels on Wednesday, without elaborating. .