Economy minister says Germany will limit the use of natural gas to generate electricity and burn more coal instead.
Germany’s economy minister says the country will limit the use of natural gas to generate electricity amid concerns about possible shortages due to a disruption in supplies from Russia.
The move comes after Russia sharply reduced natural gas flows in its pipelines to western Europe, which has pushed up energy prices.
“In order to reduce gas consumption, less gas has to be used to generate electricity. Instead, coal-fired power plants must be used more,” said Robert Habeck on Sunday.
Russian state gas giant Gazprom said the supply cuts over the Nord Stream pipeline were the result of repair work, but European Union officials believe Moscow is punishing allies of Ukraine, where Russian forces launched an invasion in February.
In view of the tense supply situation, the federal government has called on citizens to reduce their energy consumption [File: Martin Meissner/AP Photo]
Berlin’s temporary resort to coal marks a turning point for Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s governing coalition of Social Democrats, Greens and the liberal FDP, which has pledged to phase out its use of coal by 2030.
“That’s bitter, but essential to reduce gas consumption,” said Habeck.
The government has insisted that Russian gas will be needed for a while before alternative energy sources such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), delivered by ship, become available.
In the past few months, the federal government has taken measures to fill the gas storage tanks up to 90 percent by November so that there is enough gas available for heating in the European winter.
Habeck said storage facilities, which are currently at 56.7 percent capacity, could still make up the deficit from Russia through purchases from other countries, but described the situation as “serious” and said further action may be needed.
In view of the tense supply situation, the federal government recently called on citizens to reduce their energy consumption.
“It is clear that [Russian President] Putin’s strategy is to unsettle us by driving up the price and dividing us,” Habeck said. “We will not allow that.”
Gazprom said exports to countries outside of the former Soviet Union fell by 28.9 percent between January 1 and June 15 compared to the same period last year.
After cutting daily gas supplies to Germany and Italy, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said last week that Moscow will play by its own rules.
“Our product, our rules. We don’t play by rules we didn’t set,” he said during a panel discussion at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in Russia’s second-largest city.