The gas storage facilities in Austria have not been filling up as quickly as hoped of late. There is a great fear of further disruptions, especially since the Nord Stream 1 pipeline will be under maintenance from 11 July and nothing will be supplied there for a long time. Following these warning shots, the federal government withdrew to intensive consultations on Tuesday. Despite the tense situation, the gas alarm level will not be announced for the time being.
Austria thus remains at the early warning level. There has been a dip in storage for the past seven days. However, this has leveled off, said Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler in a press conference after the consultation.
However, an order from the Ministry of Energy will soon be submitted to the National Council for assessment, asking energy-intensive companies to switch to “bivalent operation”. This means that, in addition to natural gas, other energy sources must also be used. “This is mainly oil,” said the Green Minister. However, the switch will not be ordered, only the creation of the technical requirements, it was emphasized.
Tips for Private Households: “Prepare Now”
The minister and E-Control board member Wolfgang Urbantschitsch, who was also present, called on private households to prepare for the next heating season. This included maintaining the thermal baths, venting radiators and sealing windows. “A well-maintained thermal bath and clarified radiators can save up to 50 percent in costs,” Gewessler calculated.
The reason for the low injection rates was the high gas exports from Austria to Italy, according to the first analyses. On March 30, Austria declared the early warning phase, the first phase of the three-phase gas emergency plan. The alert level is only indicated “when the fall storage target is in acute danger,” Gewessler clarified.
“Can’t predict how Putin will behave”
The next big endurance test for the energy markets will take place on July 11 and the following days and weeks. Then there is maintenance work on the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which must therefore be shut down. Supply is currently guaranteed, but Gewessler also admitted: “I cannot predict how Vladimir Putin will behave.”
The government does not believe FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl, whose parliamentary faction has therefore submitted an application for the convening of the National Security Council. Chancellor Karl Nehammer announced it today at 6 p.m. “This is the same government that said there will be no vaccination,” he said at a news conference. In reality, these are pure protective claims to buy time, Austria is facing an “energy policy disaster”.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
