The German Economy Ministry declared the early warning level of the gas emergency plan. This is aimed at increasing precautionary measures to arm the Federal Republic against escalation by Russia and therefore a weaker gas supply. The background to this is the government’s demand in Moscow that gas deliveries be paid for in rubles only. The West and therefore Germany reject this.
The German Ministry of Economic Affairs emphasizes that security of supply is currently guaranteed.
EARLY NOTICE LEVEL:
NO STATE INTERVENTION YET
The gas emergency plan has three escalation levels – the early warning level, the alert level and the emergency level. According to the European regulation, the early warning phase must be triggered when there are concrete, serious and reliable indications that an event may occur that is likely to lead to a significant deterioration of the gas supply situation. A crisis team is now assembled at the German Ministry of Economic Affairs, which includes authorities and energy providers. Suppliers and pipeline operators now have to regularly assess the situation for the German government. However, the state is not yet intervening in the gas market – instead, market participants must ensure that the gas supply is guaranteed. This can be done, for example, using gas storage facilities.
ALARM LEVEL:
THE MARKET CAN STILL DEAL WITH THE DISTURBANCE ALONE
Then comes the alert level. It takes effect when there is an interruption in the gas supply or an exceptionally high demand for gas, which leads to a significant deterioration of the gas supply situation. However, the market is still able to handle this disruption or demand without the need for non-market-based measures.
EMERGENCY LEVEL:
INTERVENE STATE, DISTRIBUTED FEDERAL NETWORK AGENCY
The last level is the emergency level: it takes effect when there is an exceptionally high demand for gas or there is a significant interruption in the gas supply or other significant deterioration in the supply situation. According to the regulations, “non-market-based measures must be taken” to ensure the supply of gas to protected customers in particular – the state intervenes. According to the Ministry of Economy, the Federal Network Agency is becoming a “federal cargo distributor”. It then regulates the gas distribution in coordination with the grid operators. Certain consumer groups are particularly protected – they should be supplied with gas to the end if possible. This includes homes, social facilities like hospitals and gas power plants, which also serve to provide heat to homes.