The European Commission sees a need to reduce the use of this energy to guarantee supplies in winter
The threat of a possible shutdown of Russian gas to the European Union has lingered in Ukraine since the start of the war. With six European sanction packages and a seventh on the way, the supply disruption in Moscow is more likely than ever. Given this scenario, the EU plans to cut gas consumption by 15% until March, a measure that would allow to fill strategic reserves to cope with the winter.
This is apparent from the emergency plan of the European Commission, which will be presented in Brussels on Wednesday. “Currently, gas reserves are 74%, but we must be prepared and act now,” said Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Council. The EU has been in contact for months to diversify supply and has signed agreements with the United States, Egypt and Azerbaijan, among others, to obtain 35,000 million cubic meters of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
However, in order to replenish European reserves, Brussels sees it as “necessary” to reduce gas consumption. “It asks a lot of the member states, but we have to do it,” said von der Leyen. If Europe wants to get through the winter without gas rationing, the continent must save the equivalent of 45 billion cubic meters of gas.
A possible restriction on Russia’s supply would be a major challenge for the EU, which imports 40% of its energy from Moscow. “But it is nothing that we cannot overcome with coordination, unity and solidarity,” said the President of the European Commission. The European recipe for saving this situation includes, in addition to saving energy, the use of more polluting energy sources to replace gas, such as coal. Some Member States have even reopened their coal-fired power stations and postponed their withdrawal from nuclear power. In that sense, the Community Executive is willing to relax emission limits “for as long as necessary”.
In the worst case scenario, the EU ensures that supplies to households and essential social services, such as hospitals and “critical” industries, are “guaranteed”. It also proposes to prioritize certain activities over others and provide incentives to compensate for activity cessations. “Twelve European countries are already suffering from (partial) austerity measures from Russia and the total supply this year is 66% less than last year,” explains von der Leyen.
Source: La Verdad
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.
