The Council of Ministers will give the green light to the emergency plan with new efficiency recommendations to save the 6.4% of natural gas destined for Brussels
Spain’s commitment to Brussels is to save 6.4% natural gas, slightly less than the 7% previously set. To this end, the government approved an energy-saving plan in August that includes measures such as limiting the temperature in public buildings and turning off shop windows at night. But it is necessary to go one step further and this Tuesday the Council of Ministers will approve a contingency plan to tackle energy efficiency at the start of a winter marked by tensions with Russia over gas cuts.
The Ministry of Ecological Transition confirmed to this newspaper that it will agree to the plan next Tuesday, which has already been delayed twice. The first was at the end of September, when Minister Teresa Ribera decided to await the outcome of the European Energy Council, which brought together the Ministers of the Twenty-seven to examine the Commission’s emergency measures against high electricity prices. on the Community market. The second, last week, when the plan was expected to be approved, but the General State Budgets for 2023 shone in the Council of Ministers.
The new measures to be approved by the Executive are not yet known, but the plan is expected to make recommendations to facilitate energy savings and efficiency without thinking about spending cuts, as other countries, such as the UK, have already suggested. due to the greatest diversification thanks to the network of regasification plants in Spain. The industry, especially the electro-intensive sector, is most curious about this plan, which may include commitments to reduce consumption in the sector.
In recent months, Minister Ribera has held a round of talks with political groups, companies and associations to gather proposals to help reduce gas consumption in order to fulfill the commitment to Europe.
The current savings plan limits the use of air conditioning to 27 degrees and heating to 19 degrees in winter in public buildings, shops, train and bus stations, airports, cultural spaces and hotels, but not for businesses in general (offices). According to calculations by the ministry, every degree of temperature reduction results in a 7% saving in electricity consumption. In addition, the light in the shop windows of shops and public buildings that are empty after ten o’clock in the evening must be switched off. These are measures that will be in force until at least 1 November next year.
Source: La Verdad
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