Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Germans urged to use less energy after Russia cuts gas supply and prices surge

Germans urged to use less energy after Russia cuts gas supply and prices surge

Germany has accused Russia of trying to push up gas prices by cutting supplies.

Germans have been urged to save energy after Russia's Gazprom announced significant cuts in natural gas supplies via a key pipeline.

Gazprom, which is state-owned, announced a 40% reduction in gas flows to Germany through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline on Tuesday.

On Wednesday the cut was increased to 60%.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said reductions in supply were not premeditated and related to maintenance issues.

Gazprom said it had been unable to secure the return of equipment sent to Canada for repairs due to sanctions the country imposed over the war in Ukraine.

Russia's ambassador to the EU told state news agency RIA Novosti more delays could lead to flows via the pipeline being completely suspended.

Gazprom chief executive Alexei Miller said he could see no solution to the equipment problem affecting the Portovaya compressor station, which is part of the pipeline.

Germany said maintenance should not have been a problem until the autumn, calling Russia's excuse "unfounded".

Putin 'is doing what was feared'


It accused Russia of trying to push up gas prices and create uncertainty.

Dutch wholesale gas prices, the European benchmark, surged about 30% on Thursday afternoon in response to the news.

Russian President Vladimir Putin "is doing what was to be feared from the beginning: he is reducing the volume of gas, not in one go but step by step", German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck said.

He pointed to earlier Russian decisions to cut supplies to Bulgaria, Denmark and others.

Mr Habeck, who had already launched a campaign for people to save energy last week, drove home the message after Gazprom's announcements.

"Gas is coming to Europe - we have no supply problem, but the volumes of gas must be acquired on the market and it will get more expensive," he said.

He added the government has implemented a law requiring gas storage to be filled and is prepared.

He applauded Germans for their willingness to save energy.

"Now is the time to do so," he said. "Every kilowatt hour helps in this situation. It is a situation that is serious, but not a situation that endangers supply security in Germany."

Germany is not the only one facing falling Russian supplies.

Austria's OMV said Gazprom notified it of reduced deliveries, while France's Engie said flows were down but clients were not affected.

Italy's Eni said it would receive only 65% of the volumes it had requested from the company due to the issues at Portovaya.

The Italian government said it has drawn up contingency plans in case gas supply cuts continue in the days ahead.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Unelected PM of the UK holds an emergency meeting because a candidate got voted in… which he says is a threat to democracy…
Farmers break through police barriers in Brussels.
Ukraine Arrests Father-Son Duo In Lockbit Cybercrime Bust
US Offers $15 Million For Info On Leaders Of Cybercrime Group Lockbit
Apple warns against drying iPhones with rice
Alexei Navalny: UK sanctions Russian prison chiefs after activist's death
German economy is in 'troubled waters' - ministry
In a recent High Court hearing, the U.S. argued that Julian Assange endangered lives by releasing classified information.
Tucker Carlson says Boris Johnson wants "a million dollars, in Bitcoin or cash, from Tucker Carlson to talk about Ukraine.
Russia is rebuilding capacity to destabilize European countries, new UK report warns
EU Commission wants anti-drone defenses at Brussels HQ
Von der Leyen’s 2nd-term pitch: More military might, less climate talk
EU Investigates TikTok for Child Safety Concerns
EU Launches Probe Into TikTok Over Child Protection Under Digital Content Law
EU and UK Announce Joint Effort on Migration
Ministers Confirm Proposal to Prohibit Mobile Phone Usage in English Schools
Avdiivka - Symbol Of Ukrainian Resistance Now In Control Of Russian Troops
"Historic Step": Zelensky Signs Security Pact With Germany
"Historic Step": Zelensky Signs Security Pact With Germany
Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has died at the Arctic prison colony
Tucker Carlson grocery shopping in Russia. This is so interesting.
France and Germany Struggle to Align on European Defense Strategy
‘A lot higher than we expected’: Russian arms production worries Europe’s war planners
Greece Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage and Adoption Rights
Russia "Very Close" To Creating Cancer Vaccines, Says Vladimir Putin
Hungarian Foreign Minister: Europeans will lose Europe, the Union's policy must change drastically
Microsoft says it caught hackers from China, Russia and Iran using its AI tools
US Rejects Putin's Ceasefire Offer in Ukraine
The Dangers of Wildfire Smoke and Self-Protection Strategies
A Londoner has been arrested for expressing his Christian beliefs.
Chinese Women Favor AI Boyfriends Over Humans
Greece must address role in migrant vessel disaster that killed 600: Amnesty
Google pledges 25 million euros to boost AI skills in Europe
Hungarian President Katalin Novák Steps Down Amid Pardon Controversy
Activist crashes Hillary Clinton's speech, calls her a 'war criminal.'
In El Salvador, the 'Trump of Latin America' stuns the world with a speech slamming woke policing after winning a landslide election
Trudeau reacts to Putin's mention of Canadian Parliament applauding a former Ukrainian Nazi in his interview with Tucker Carlson.
The Spanish police blocked the farmers protest. So the farmers went out and moved the police car out of the way.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy fires top Ukraine army commander
Tucker Carlson's interview with Vladimir Putin raises EU concerns
Finnish Airline, Finnair, is voluntarily weighing passengers to better estimate flight cargo weight
Russia's Economy Expands by 3.6% Due to Increased Military Spending
Ukraine MPs Vote To Permit Use Of Dead Soldiers' Sperm
German Princess Becomes First Aristocrat To Pose Naked On Playboy Cover
UK’s King Charles III diagnosed with cancer
EU's Ursula von der Leyen Confronts Farmer Protests Amid Land Policy Debates
Distinguishing Between Harmful AI Media and Positive AI-Generated Content: A Crucial Challenge for the EU
Tucker Carlson explains why he interviewed Putin
Dutch farmers are still protesting in the Netherlands against the government, following the World Economic Forum's call for 'owning nothing.'
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stands up for European farmers and says, 'Brussels is suffocating European farmers.
×