The measures in question kick in when there is a major disruption in supply or demand
Germany is preparing to enter the second phase in its gas emergency plan within five to 10 days, Die Welt reported on Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The so-called “alarm phase” is triggered when there “is a disruption in the gas supply or an exceptionally high demand for gas which leads to a significant deterioration of the gas supply situation, but the market is still able to cope with this disruption or demand without the need to take non-market based measures,” according to the German Economic Ministry.
The measures allow utilities to pass on gas costs to consumers. The price of fuel has skyrocketed in recent months following the launch of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, which led the EU to impose massive sanctions on the Russian energy sector. However, while those sanctions were intended to punish Moscow economically, they have had the reverse effect, impoverishing European families. A recent poll found as many as one in six Germans reported skipping meals to make ends meet.
The potential imposition of new emergency measures comes after Russia Gazprom’s move last week to cut natural gas supply to Germany by 60%. While Berlin slammed the Russian gas company’s decision as “political,” Moscow explained “there is simply nothing to pump with,” pointing out that Gazprom was unable to safely maintain gas flow without a turbine that had been sent by Siemens Energy to Canada for repair and not returned.
“This is a man-made crisis created by the EU,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Monday. “We have gas, it’s ready to be delivered, but the Europeans have to give back the hardware. And repair the hardware in line with their commitments.”
https://cdni.russiatoday.com/files/2022.06/thumbnail/62b05619203027740f09e171.jpgJune 22, 2022 at 02:57AM
from RT – Daily news
