Germany’s economy minister says the country will reduce its use of gas to generate electricity amid concerns about possible shortages caused by Russian supply cuts. The move comes after Russia sharply reduced gas flows to its pipelines to Western Europe, boosting energy prices. “In order to reduce gas consumption, less gas must be used to generate electricity. “Instead, coal-fired power plants should be used more,” Robert Habek said in a statement on Sunday. Russia’s state-owned gas giant Gazprom says the cuts in supply through the Nord Stream pipeline are the result of repair work, but European Union officials believe Moscow is punishing Ukraine’s allies, where Russian forces launched an invasion in February. German government calls on citizens to reduce energy use amid tight supply [File: Martin Meissner/AP Photo] Berlin’s interim use of coal marks a recovery for the ruling Social Democrats, Greens and Chancellor Olaf Solz’s liberal FDP, which has pledged to limit coal use by 2030. “It is bitter but necessary to reduce gas consumption,” Habeck said. The government has insisted that Russian gas will be needed for a while until alternative energy sources are available, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) imported by ship. In recent months, the German government has taken steps to fill gas storage facilities to 90% of capacity by November to ensure that enough gas will be available as heating fuel during the European winter. Habeck said the storage facility, currently with a capacity of 56.7%, was still able to cover the deficit from Russia with purchases from elsewhere, but described the situation as “serious” and said it might be needed. further measures. The German government recently called on citizens to reduce energy use in light of the tense supply situation. “It’s obvious that [Russian President] “Putin’s strategy is to upset us by raising our prices and dividing us.” “We will not let that happen.” Gazprom said exports to countries outside the former Soviet Union fell 28.9% between January 1 and June 15 compared to the same period last year. Following the reduction of daily gas supplies to Germany and Italy, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said last week that Moscow would play by its own rules. “Our product, our rules. “We are not playing by rules we did not create,” he said during a discussion at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in Russia’s second city.
