Germany: Dramatic calls for energy crisis

An express bill for the immediate reopening of coal-fired power plants in Germany in order to compensate for the losses from natural gas was submitted this afternoon by the government to the German parliament. This is a particularly painful move for the German government and especially the Greens, as Germany’s goal in recent years has been – and continues to be in line with the Social Democrat, Green and Liberal government – to phase out coal by 2030.

At the same time, after the activation of the state of alarm for the natural gas, the Minister of Economy and Energy, Robert Habeck, from yesterday with continuous public interventions speaks in dramatic tones about domino effects and the risk of an unprecedented energy recession, which resembles the financial crisis. caused by the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008.

However, everything he states in an interview with Spiegel magazine also makes sense. Among other things, he states: “What we are experiencing at the moment is more important than the oil crisis of 1973. The gas cut-off today would hit the economy harder and harder (…) I know many citizens whose money does not reach the end of the month “They did not heat all the rooms in their house last winter. To be honest, it is not over yet. They will be hit even harder (..) Putin wants our country to disintegrate, but we will not disintegrate.”

“Take a cold shower!”

However, it is not only Robert Hubeck’s public speeches that move in dramatic tones. Klaus Miller, head of the Network Protection Authority (Bundesnetzagentur), which oversees the flow and supply of natural gas, has since declared a state of energy alert in the second phase of the gas contingency plan. , does not rule out a complete cessation of gas flow in the coming months. “Most of them at the moment are not good and they all come to the following conclusion: very little gas at the end of winter or even worse in autumn.”

In particular, he speaks of energy efficiency of only two and a half months, in case Moscow completely closes the gas tap. Warns consumers of perhaps tripling their bills by the end of the year and suggests simple ways to save energy such as less hot showers, less electricity and lower home heating.

In fact, Robert in his extensive interview with Spiegel states characteristically: “I have significantly reduced my shower time. But I am a bad example. As a minister I have a salary that others only dream of. I also come home late, get up at six, leave at seven I do not need to heat the house at all in winter, but things are completely different for those who work from home, retirees, families.

At the same time, energy experts in Germany recommend low temperatures at home in winter, even at 17 degrees for some rooms, investing in good insulation and avoiding the use of energy-intensive appliances.

It will become Nord Stream 2 pipeline LNG;

At the same time, according to Spiegel magazine, the German government is considering the conversion of parts of the Russian-German Nord Stream 2 pipeline in the Baltic Sea region and of course only on German soil to a terminal for liquefied natural gas LNG. The proposal specifically concerns a section of the pipeline connecting the sea with the German hinterland, which the German government allegedly intends to expropriate. From a technical point of view, however, the Ministry of Economy and Energy, according to the report, considers such a scenario “ideal”. Recently, however, there was a Russian reaction to this, with the Kremlin warning that it would take legal action against Germany if these scenarios apply.

Dimitra Kyranoudi, Berlin

Source: Deutsche Welle