Plans by German economics minister Robert Habeck, which the German news agency DPA has seen, show that gas use for power generation and industry should be reduced and that replenishing storage facilities will be a priority for the winter. In addition, Habeck wants more coal-fired power stations to be used to make up for the shortfall. The German government would make billions available to finance the measures.
Russian state gas company Gazprom announced on Wednesday that it would further reduce deliveries 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. Earlier, the state-owned company had already limited the supply to about 60 percent.