No gas went from Russia to Germany for ten days. According to Russia, the major gas pipeline Nord Stream 1 was unable to supply gas because one of the turbines had to go to Canada for repair. According to Russia, no gas could be transported to Germany without this turbine.
“political action”
But German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said Nord Stream can remain open as usual. He describes the temporary shutdown of Nord Stream as a “political act” by Russia to show that Putin can order gas supplies to be halted at any time.
By June, Russia had cut German gas supplies by 60%. In addition, Europe is struggling with smaller gas reserves than normal. Due to the high gas prices, energy companies have decided to fill the tank less. The Russian state-owned company Gazprom also rented a significant portion of the warehouses in Europe and decided to leave them empty. Now there is a risk that we will not have enough gas next winter.
In the video below, RTL Z journalist Maarten Veeger explains the causes of the gas crisis in more detail:
According to Putin, Russia wants to help replenish Europe’s gas reserves, but Europe itself has caused gas shortages. “Gazprom stands ready to supply gas if needed,” the Russian president said this week. But Europe has closed everything itself,” he said. It refers to Nord Stream 2, the additional gas pipeline that will open next year next to Nord Stream 1.
Nord Stream 2 will provide Europe with a much larger stock of Russian gas. This will make Europe even more dependent. Due to the war in Ukraine, Germany decided in February not to approve the use of the pipeline for the time being.
Now Russia threatens to leave Europe out in the cold. It can supply more gas, but won’t because it won’t accept European sanctions. The EU wants to be less dependent on Russian gas. Imports fill the Russian treasury, that’s the reason, and the EU wants to stop it.
Dependence
Europe cannot get rid of Russian gas in this way. 40% of the gas the EU consumed last year came from Russia. Due to this dependence and the ongoing gas crisis, experts expect a gas shortage until the winter of 2025-26.
Last week, the European Commission presented an emergency plan to reduce European gas consumption. The plan will enter into force if an acute deficit develops, but has yet to be ratified by EU member states.
15 percent of the gas consumed in the Netherlands comes from Russia. This makes us much less dependent than, say, Germany.
Yet we also see the gas crisis, for example due to rising gas prices. And when the European contingency plan comes into effect, the average Dutch person will also need to use less gas. “Then we have to drive slower, cool less and be very careful when turning on the heating,” Laetitia Ouillet, energy expert at eRiskgroup, told RTL Nieuws.
Fill out backups while you still can
Europe wants to quickly replenish its gas stock to get through the winter more easily. The European reserves are now half filled. At 42%, the counter in the Netherlands is slightly behind the rest of Europe.
However, it is not yet clear how long the pipeline will remain open. The next turbine will be commissioned on July 26, which could lead to further reductions in gas supply. If there is less gas again, the reserves cannot be sufficiently replenished.
a few alternatives
Europe cannot do without gas and there are few alternatives. To this end, Europe will have to make a new transition in the coming years to liquefied gas, nuclear power stations, coal-fired power stations and sustainable energy.
In the video below, business journalist Gert-Jan Verstegen explains what liquefied gas is:
It will be years before Europe is independent from Russian gas. So for now, Putin can use it as a blackmail tool. If Europe cannot meet its demands, Putin can (partially) turn off the gas tap. “Putin is leaving Europe exactly where he wants it: at the mercy of Moscow,” said Russian correspondent Eva Hartog.
Source: RTL
Smith Charles is a talented entertainment journalist and author at The Nation View. He has a passion for all things entertainment and writes about the latest movies, TV shows, music, and celebrity news. He’s known for his in-depth interviews with actors, musicians, and other industry figures, and his ability to provide unique perspectives on the entertainment industry.
