In recent days, the federal government and especially the responsible minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) have always assured the public that the supply of gas and fuel is not in danger, despite the disruptions from Russia and the accident at the Schwechat refinery. The SPÖ has now presented a letter in which the Board of Directors of OMV already warns of a bottleneck on 23 June and calls for government measures.
The letter, reportedly signed by senior management, speaks of “serious supply bottlenecks” unless further reserves are released. “Based on the current schedule, which runs until September 2022, we will be able to supply contract customers and our own OMV filling stations less and less,” the letter reads. Specifically, OMV Gewessler requested the release of 100,000 tons of diesel and 90,000 tons of semi-finished products.
The letter stands “in its own right,” SPÖ energy spokesman Alois Schroll said in a hastily convened press conference on Monday. “The government does not want or cannot guarantee the energy supply in Austria.” The letter proves the contrary of what the government claims. According to Schroll, the government has lied to parliament, the media and the 2.7 million diesel drivers in Austria.
The oil reserve, the so-called mandatory emergency reserve (PNR), covers the average Austrian oil consumption of 90 days. Not only crude oil, but also waste fuels such as petrol and diesel are part of this reserve. So far, 112,000 tons of diesel and 56,000 tons of petrol have been released after the refinery accident. This reduced the reserve stored in Austria by six days of consumption.
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.
