The European Union is expected today to define emergency plans to reduce natural gas demand in the coming months, but also to warn member countries that without substantial cuts today, they will face a serious problem of fuel supply in the winter, in the event that the Russia cuts gas supply.
Europe is in a race to replenish its natural gas stocks before winter, but also to organize a back-up supply system in case Moscow cuts further gas supplies in retaliation for Europe’s support for Ukraine for the war with Russia.
Russia’s Gazprom has halted gas supplies to some European countries, and European officials have warned that the scope for cuts in gas supplies from Moscow could widen.
The European Commission is expected to urge countries to prepare for such a scenario by reducing natural gas consumption. A draft of the European measures seen by Reuters would propose a voluntary target for European countries to reduce gas demand over the next eight months, with implementation of the plan becoming mandatory should Europe face with an emergency, regarding natural gas.
This proposal should be approved by the European countries, which are largely responsible for shaping their own energy policies.
“This is a recommendation for all public bodies, consumers, households, owners of public buildings, energy suppliers, for the need to immediately take extraordinary and drastic measures to save natural gas,” states the draft of the European Commission. The exact quantitative consumption reduction target is not mentioned in the draft, which may undergo changes, before its final publication.
The same draft proposes measures that governments can take through the activation of financial incentives for companies to reduce natural gas consumption, the use of state aid to encourage industries and power plants to use other fuels, and the implementation of information campaigns, in order to convince consumers to reduce energy consumption, both for heating and cooling.
Source: Capital
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