Germany: Activates alarm level for gas contingency plan

LAST UPDATE: 11:46

Gas is now a “rare asset” in Germany, Economy Minister Robert Habeck said recently, sounding the alarm level in the emergency plan for gas security.

Mr Habeck, however, assured that the supply of gas to the country remained guaranteed, “but there can be no false impression of security”, stressing that the necessary quantity can only be achieved if it is not stored for neighboring European countries. “We need to reduce gas consumption – now in the summer. This is important in the face of winter. It is important that we now adjust the heating and adjust it before winter comes,” he said, noting that the government was already preparing for all scenarios – with alternative routes and new legislation.

The Minister of Economy also explained that the problem is not due to an internal issue of the German energy market, but exclusively to Russia, while referring to the wrong excessive dependence on Russian energy and the lack of ready-made alternatives in the field of alternative energy sources. “This is now taking revenge on us. It is the failures of the last decade that have brought us to this difficulty,” he said.

The activation of the second level of alarm is the basis for taking further measures, Robert Habeck clarified and referred to the operation of coal-fired power plants, in order to save natural gas.

As for consumers, the minister acknowledged that they would already see increases in next year’s bills, but explained that the government was not currently using the price adjustment mechanism, which allows providers to raise prices. in current contracts.

SOURCE: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ