That is what German economics minister Robert Habeck said to the newspaper on Sunday Handelsblatt† Everything is aimed at reducing the use of gas, especially when generating electricity. ‘It’s bitter. Otherwise it will be tight in the winter,” said the Greens minister about increasing the coal-fired power stations. The German government would make billions of euros available to finance the measures.
The Russian state gas company Gazprom announced on Wednesday that it would further reduce supplies to Germany. Since Thursday, Nord Stream 1, Germany’s most important pipeline for Russian gas, has been supplying only about 40 percent of the normal amount to the west. Earlier, the state-owned company had already limited the supply to about 60 percent. Germany is more dependent on Russian gas than other European countries, especially through Nord Stream 1.
Gazprom last week cited a failed compressor as the reason for the throttling of supplies. That compressor from the German Siemens was brought to Canada for maintenance and is no longer allowed to leave the country due to Western sanctions. However, according to several Western countries, Russia is using the gas as a political weapon. Habeck also said that on Sunday. According to the minister, the reduced supply from Russia can still be compensated with supplies from elsewhere, but the situation is ‘serious’.
Gas market in the Netherlands
While the Germans are now taking action, the Netherlands is still waiting. A spokesman for D66 minister Rob Jetten of Climate and Energy told the NOS on Sunday that a crisis team is constantly monitoring the gas market in the Netherlands. Jetten said last Friday that the Netherlands is in relatively good shape, but that developments in other European countries could lead to problems. This weekend and Monday there will be consultations with the German government and the European Commission, the spokesman said.
The discussion about increasing coal production to save on gas is also an issue in the Netherlands. The three coal-fired power stations have been virtually shut down due to the climate targets and the Urgenda ruling. The owners receive a very generous compensation for this from the government. These operators want to run more, but they don’t want to lose out. The VVD, among others, recently called on Jetten to make an emergency law for the reopening of the coal-fired power stations, because this takes time. For Jetten, at least for the time being, the climate is paramount.
Meanwhile, the supply of gas to Europe could come under further pressure in the coming week due to planned maintenance on the Turkstream pipeline. The pipeline from Russia to Turkey will be closed for a week. Normally, gas also goes from Turkey to countries in southern Europe, such as Bulgaria, Greece and Italy. Those countries may receive less gas due to maintenance.