'This is an ATTACK': Germany accuses Putin of trying to sow 'chaos' by slashing Europe's gas supplies
- 'Reduction of gas deliveries via Nord Stream 1 pipeline is an attack on us,' Germany's economy minister said
- Robert Habeck accused Russian energy giant Gazprom and Putin of seeking to 'create chaos' on the continent
- Germany, Austria and the Netherlands have fired up mothballed coal plants to reduce their gas consumption
Germany's economy minister has accused Russian energy giant Gazprom of mounting an 'attack' on his nation after it slashed its supply of gas to Europe.
'The reduction of gas deliveries via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline is an attack on us, an economic attack on us,' Robert Habeck said in a speech to a German industry conference earlier today.
Gazprom said last week it would reduce supplies of the fuel to Germany via the pipeline due to delayed repairs, but the German government has called the decision 'political' amid the widespread European support for Ukraine following Putin's invasion.
As a result of the cut, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands decided to reactivate mothballed coal power plants to reduce their gas consumption.
Germany has also mandated the filling of gas reserves to 90 per cent ahead of the European winter, to hedge against a further reduction in supply.
'When we go into the winter with half full gas stores and the taps are turned off then we are talking about a difficult economic crisis in Germany,' Habeck said.
Currently, Germany's gas storage capacity is just under 60 percent full.
'We have seen this pattern multiple times now,' Habeck said at the conference.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has sought to 'create chaos' in European gas markets by cutting off supply to Poland and Bulgaria among other European countries, the minister said.
Habeck called for the 'diversification' of suppliers of raw materials and energy to achieve 'a bit of independence from the malign intentions of the world's dictators'.
Germany's economy minister has accused Russian energy giant Gazprom of mounting an 'attack' on his nation after it slashed its supply of gas to Europe. 'The reduction of gas deliveries via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline is an attack on us, an economic attack on us,' Robert Habeck said in a speech to a German industry conference earlier today
Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured) has sought to 'create chaos' in European gas markets by cutting off supply to Poland and Bulgaria among other European countries, the minister said
The logo of 'Gazprom Germania' is pictured at the company's headquarters in Berlin, April 6, 2022
Pipes at the landfall facilities of the 'Nord Stream 1' gas pipeline are pictured in Lubmin, Germany, March 8, 2022
Germans had been told to use less energy after Russia cut gas supplies through the key Nord Stream pipeline by 60 per cent over 'technical problems'.
State-owned Gazprom announced last Tuesday that it was cutting gas flows through the undersea Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany by 40 per cent, then, a day later, announced a further cut that brings the overall reduction to about 60 per cent.
In both cases, it cited a technical problem, saying that Canadian sanctions over the war in Ukraine prevented German partner Siemens Energy from delivering equipment that had been sent for overhaul.
The German government rejected that reasoning, saying that maintenance should not have been an issue until the autumn and the Russian decision was a political gambit to sow uncertainty and push up prices.
Russian president Vladimir Putin 'is doing what was to be feared from the beginning: He is reducing the volume of gas, not in one go but step by step,' German vice chancellor Robert Habeck said in a video posted by his ministry on Twitter on Wednesday night.
He pointed to earlier Russian moves to cut supplies to Bulgaria, Denmark and others.
German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck has urged residents to use less energy after Russia cut gas supplies through the key Nord Stream pipeline by 60 per cent over 'technical problems'
The reduction in gas flows comes as Germany and the rest of Europe try to reduce their dependence on Russian energy imports.
Germany, which has Europe's biggest economy, gets about 35 per cent of its gas to power industry and generate electricity from Russia.
The news of the reductions sent short-term natural gas prices sharply higher in Europe. Month-ahead spot prices rose 13 per cent on Thursday to 139.10 euros (£118) per kilowatt hour, up 40 per cent since last Monday.
Habeck, who is also the economy minister, already had launched a campaign for people to save energy last week.
The head of Germany's Bundesnetzagentur energy regulator last Tuesday warned Gazprom's move to cut supplies was a warning signal that could cause problems for Europe's biggest country in winter.
'It would significantly worsen our situation,' regulator chief Klaus Mueller told the Rheinische Post daily.
'We could perhaps get through the summer as the heating season is over. But it is imperative that we fill the storage facilities to get through the winter,' he said.
Klaus Mueller, the head of Germany's Bundesnetzagentur energy regulator, last Tuesday warned Gazprom's move to cut supplies was a warning signal that could cause problems for Europe's biggest country in winter
Germany will have to burn more coal as it seeks to limit its use of Russian gas.
Economy minister Robert Habeck admitted it meant his country would be raising usage of a highly polluting fossil fuel to ensure its energy security.
‘That’s bitter, but it’s simply necessary in this situation to lower gas usage,’ he insisted.
Russian gas company Gazprom announced last week that it was cutting supplies through the crucial Nord Stream 1 pipeline for technical reasons.
Germany is set to burn more coal - a highly polluting fossil fuel - as it seeks to limit its use of Russian gas. The move is expected to increase the country's energy security (STOCK)
Mr Habeck said he believed the move was politically motivated.
Last month the EU agreed to halt most Russian oil imports but an embargo on its gas is a long way off. Russia supplies about 27 per cent of the union’s imported oil and 40 per cent of its natural gas.
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