Economy Minister Robert Hubeck activates the first level of emergency mechanism to ensure gas supply. No state intervention at the moment.
Under the heavy shadow of the war in Ukraine but also the Kremlin’s demand to the West that Russian gas supplies be paid in rubles from now on – with a response deadline of tomorrow, March 31 – the German government today made serious announcements about natural gas.
Economy Minister Robert Habeck announced in Berlin the activation of the first level of early warning, in the framework of the emergency mechanism to ensure the supply of natural gas to Germany, which is valid in Germany from 2019 under a relevant European Regulation (Article 8 Reg. 2017 / 1938).
“At the moment there are no bottlenecks in supply. However, we need to increase precautionary measures so that we are prepared for the possibility of escalation on the part of Russia,” said the German economy minister, adding: may in order to continue securing energy supply in Germany “.
Three-level mechanism for securing natural gas
But what does this first “bell” for energy efficiency in Germany mean in practice? According to Robert Habeck, although the gas supply is still secured, a special crisis management team is convened by competent bodies and gas suppliers, which will evaluate and inform the German government about the current situation. At the moment, there is no state intervention or imposition of restrictive measures for the business world and households – something that is of course not ruled out in case of escalation and change of energy data.
Within the framework of the crisis management mechanism for the supply of natural gas (Notfallplan Gas fur die Bundesrepublik Deutschland), there are three levels of warning. The first level, which has already been activated, is essentially an initial “warning signal” based on “specific, serious and reliable indications” of possible gas shortages.
Although this level includes advisory and precautionary measures, it can lead to the activation of the second level, which involves the element of “alarm”. The last level that the German government can activate is the “emergency level”, where the gas supply is now cut off. At this level, measures of direct state intervention are foreseen for the protection of the citizens-consumers but also for the guarantee of the operation of basic state infrastructures, eg hospitals, police, fire brigade.
Dimitra Kyranoudi, Berlin
Source: Deutsche Welle
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