Ten EU nations announce gas emergency early warnings

• Ten EU nations have issued early warnings of a gas emergency after Russia restricted supplies.
•  Germany declared a level two emergency, which could permit suppliers to pass on price increases to customers.
• Member states must fill their gas storage to 80 percent by November 1 or face rationing.

According to the European Commission, ten EU governments, including Germany, Sweden, and Italy, have issued early warnings of a gas emergency after Russia restricted supplies in recent days. Frans Timmermans, the head of Brussels’ environment department, disclosed the statistic to the European Parliament without naming the countries.

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The first step of a three-part strategy requires governments to inform and encourage individuals to reduce their gas consumption. Neighboring nations should contribute gas from their own supplies.

Today, Germany declared a level two emergency, which could permit suppliers to pass on price increases to customers in order to encourage energy conservation. The third phase involves rationing.

Gazprom, the state-owned Russian gas corporation, attributes the decrease in gas flow via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to maintenance issues caused by EU bans on spare parts.

Timmermans stated that Vladimir Putin had “weaponised gas” in an effort to “disrupt our societies” in response to the EU’s backing for Ukraine in the wake of the Russian invasion. “He will not be able to divide us and we will make sure Ukraine will come out of this war as an independent country that will be allowed to make its own choices.”

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Timmermans applauded a vote by the European Parliament requiring member states to fill their gas storage to 80 percent full by November 1. The level has now surpassed 50%, stated the commissioner.