Citizens should continue to take short showers and turn down the thermostat this year. The cabinet wants the Dutch to continue saving energy even if their gas supply is not at risk. But in a letter about the situation with the Dutch gas supply, Climate and Energy Minister Rob Jetten warns that the risk of bottlenecks has not yet been averted.
In April 2022, the cabinet launched an energy saving campaign with the slogan “Turn the Key” for fear of gas shortages. In February, Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine, and Russia drastically cut gas supplies to Europe as Europe backed that country with finances and arms supplies.
five minutes shower
The campaign gave practical advice to both citizens and businesses to avoid running out of gas in the Netherlands in winter. Businesses have been asked to use LED lighting, stop heating empty spaces, and turn off lights throughout the building after work. Citizens were advised not to shower for more than five minutes and not to set the home thermostat above 19 degrees.
The Netherlands has recently used 30 percent less gas than in the last five years. The minister warns that this is also due to the hot winter and high energy prices. The gas storage facility in the Netherlands is now 58 percent full and plans to increase that to 90 percent in the spring.
tension in the gas market
The Netherlands has become less dependent on Russian gas due to the import of liquid gas from other countries. However, the European gas market remains tense. “Energy should also be saved next year,” Jetten says. The Put the Button to a new start campaign will start in May.
Source: NOS
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
