Russia cuts 60 percent of gas through Nord Stream pipeline, Germany urges citizens to reduce energy use

DUBLIN, KOMPAS.com – Inhabitant German told to use less energy after Russia cut gas supply through Nord Stream’s main pipeline by 60 percent due to ‘technical problems’ according to report Daily Mail on Friday (17/6/2022)

State-owned Gazprom announced Tuesday that it is cutting gas flow through the Nord Stream 1 subsea pipeline to Germany by 40 percent.

Also read: Summary of 114th day of Russian attack on Ukraine, EU grants Ukraine membership, Russia cuts gas supply to Western Europe

But a day later, the e-energy company announced further cuts that made the overall reduction Russian gas to Germany to about 60 percent.

The company in both cases cited technical problems.

Gazprom claims that sanctions for Russia’s attack on Ukraine from Canada which prevented German partner Siemens Energy from shipping equipment that had been sent for repair.

The German government rejected that excuse, saying that maintenance should not be a problem until the fall and Russia’s decision was a political move to sow uncertainty and raise prices.

Russian President Vladimir Putin “did what he was afraid to do from the start: He reduced gas volumes, not in one go but step by step,” German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said in a video posted by his ministry on Twitter late Wednesday (15/6/). 2022).

He referred to Russia’s earlier moves to cut supplies to Bulgaria, Denmark and other European countries.

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This reduction in Russian gas flows comes as Germany and the rest of Europe try to reduce their dependence on Russian energy imports.

Germany, which has Europe’s largest economy, gets about 35 percent of its gas for the electricity industry and generates electricity from Russia.

News of Russia’s gas supply cuts sent short-term natural gas prices soaring in Europe. Next month’s spot price rose 13 percent on Thursday (16/6/2022) to 139.10 euros (Rp 2 million) per kilowatt hour, up 40 percent since Monday (13/6/2022).

Habeck, who is also the economy minister, launched a campaign for people to save energy last week.

After Gazprom’s announcement, he delivered the message in a video Wednesday (15/6/2022) evening.

“Gas is coming to Europe – we don’t have a supply problem, but the volume of gas has to be procured on the market and it’s going to be more expensive,” Habeck said.

He said the government was ready, noting that they had enacted a law requiring gas stores to be filled.

Also read: Russia cuts gas shipments to Europe, claims Canadian sanctions hamper repair of equipment

He praised the willingness of German citizens and the business sector to conserve energy and save gas.

“Now is the time to do it,” he said.

“Every kilowatt per hour helps in this situation. This is a serious situation, but not one that jeopardizes supply security in Germany.”

The head of Germany’s energy regulator Bundesnetzagentur on Tuesday (14/6/2022) warned Gazprom’s move to cut supply was a warning signal that it could cause trouble for Europe’s biggest country in the winter.

“This will significantly worsen our situation,” chief regulator Klaus Mueller told the daily Rheinische Post.

“We might be able to get through the summer because the heating system isn’t necessary. But it’s very important that we stock up on storage facilities to get through the winter,” he said.

Also read: Putin: Sanctions against Russia are crazy and reckless

Asked if he feared that Russia was serious about freezing gas supplies, Mueller said: “So far the logic of Russia is to keep selling gas to Germany. But we can’t rule anything out.”

As Germany tries to reduce its dependence on Russian energy, Germany is speeding up plans for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, and Mueller said he would welcome a floating terminal at Lubmin, on the Baltic Sea.

“The floating terminal in Lubmin is being looked at, there are talks at the moment,” said
Mueller.

He further said, the Baltic Sea, as well as the North Sea, are being considered to ensure the supply of sufficient energy capacity in southern Germany with gas from the coast.

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