The Austrian population sees the supply of Russian gas in the country as threatened. According to a recent survey, 63 percent of the population considers it likely that Austria will no longer receive Russian gas in the winter.
21 percent think a stop of gas supply is unlikely, only 6 percent rule it out. Ten percent gave no information. The survey was prepared by the opinion research institute Unique Research for the news magazine “profil” (n=800; maximum fluctuation range: +/- 3.5%).
Austria involved in EU joint gas procurement
Alarm bells are ringing at the Austrian government. For example, Austria is involved in the joint gas procurement of the European Union. “We have reported our quantities,” Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) said Friday on the sidelines of an EU summit in Brussels, without naming a specific number. The gas must be purchased on the global market for the entire EU via the platform set up and coordinated by the European Commission. By bundling purchasing power, a lower price is possible.
Germany has announced a “gas emergency plan”.
Since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine at the end of February, the European gas supply from Russia has been considered threatened. Russia has already severely restricted or halted deliveries to Austria, Germany and other EU countries. Germany announced the alert level in the “gas emergency plan” on Thursday, Austria did not.
Nehammer: “We take development very seriously”
Germany needs this next level of alert so it can connect even more coal-fired power plants to the grid, explains Nehammer. “Austria generally has a different energy mix,” the chancellor continues: “We have a lot of hydropower, sun and wind in the summer and need less gas to generate electricity.” Development very, very seriously,” emphasizes Nehammer.
German Economy Minister Robert Habeck fears a domino effect will lead to a severe recession in his country in view of the looming emergency for guests. “It is also clear that if the German economy goes through a serious slump, Austria will of course be there because we are very close partners,” Nehammer said.
During the meeting of the 27 EU heads of state or government, some EU countries also called for a price cap for gas. Reaching an EU-wide price cap would be a sensation, Nehammer said. Austria also supports this, but it is “technically difficult” to implement. The EU commission has the task of looking for solutions and “we are happy to take everything that comes forward in the form of positive solutions,” said the chancellor.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
