By Gunnar Schupelius
Around 60 percent of Berlin’s apartments are heated directly or indirectly with gas. There will be a shortage in the coming winter. That should be said honestly, but it is not said honestly, says Gunnar Schupelius.
The government warns and warns. Everyone is talking about the lack of gas. Above all Federal Minister of Economics Habeck (Greens). The situation is difficult, he writes in an internal paper quoted by the German Press Agency. In winter it could be “really serious”.
Last week, Russia cut the supply of natural gas to Germany through the Baltic Sea pipeline “Nord Stream 1” by 60 percent. A replacement is not in sight.
Berlin’s Economics Senator Stephan Schwarz (independent, for the SPD) has also expressed his concern. The memory could not be filled as required, he said on Thursday in the evening show. Everything must be done to ensure that Berlin is not “nasty surprised” in winter.
This warning is not new. As early as April 12, Schwarz warned of an energy shortage and set up a “task force”. In the two months since then, however, he has not found a way to contain the gas crisis.
The heating season starts in three months. A lot of gas will then be needed, not only in industry but also in private households: Around 60 percent of all apartments in Berlin are heated directly with gas or indirectly via district heating, which mainly comes from gas-fired power plants.
If the Senate hasn’t found a solution in the past two months, how is it going to find it in the three months ahead? The spokesman for the Senator for Economics answered our questions very carefully. And yet there is a great deal of uncertainty.
“The current reduction in Russian delivery volumes has an impact on the filling of gas storage facilities,” he says.
These reservoirs, which are distributed and connected to each other throughout Germany, must be 80 percent full by October 1st and 90 percent by November 1st. That’s what the Energy Industry Act wants (§ 35b), because that’s the only way to get through the winter. The storage tanks are currently only 56 percent full. Without the usual large quantities of Russian gas, they cannot reach 80 or 90 percent.
What shall we do? Answer: “Senator Schwarz, like the federal government and a broad alliance, is calling for energy saving.” That’s honorable, but it won’t be enough. And another piece of information from the senator does not sound reassuring.
In the Energy Industry Act, the supply of private connections with gas is guaranteed (§ 53a). What does this guarantee look like when the stores run out? Answer: The Federal Network Agency decides “at the emergency level on the distribution of gas volumes”. “The delivery of protected customers enjoys a very high priority”.
A very high priority is something other than a guarantee, it is less than a guarantee. This means that if there is enough gas, all apartments will get enough, if not, then not.
This is how we approach autumn. There will be a shortage. A harsh winter is coming. This has to be said honestly, but it is not said honestly.
Is Gunnar Schupelius right? Call: 030/2591 73153 or email: [email protected]
