Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) – With a view to the restarted gas flow in the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, North Rhine-Westphalia’s Economics Minister Mona Neubaur (Greens) underlined the urgency of saving energy. The fact that only little gas is being delivered makes it clear “how we are hanging on the long arm of war criminal Putin, how he has us under control,” she said on “Deutschlandfunk” on Thursday morning.
Putin is waging “an economic war and driving prices up and down on the stock exchanges”. Industry and consumers now felt “how bitterly we are now paying the bill for being one-sidedly dependent on Russian gas imports”. One is exposed to Putin’s arbitrariness.
However, every citizen can become effective by contributing to energy savings. As an example, she cited the maintenance of gas heating systems, which could bring savings of five to ten percent.
Despite the tense supply situation, consumers are not threatened with gas rationing in autumn because they are a protected group under EU law – in contrast to industry. There had been demands from the industry to change this regulation. When asked whether adjustments should be made here, Neubaur said that this was applicable EU law. She relies on self-determination and voluntariness in order to “best get through this gas crisis self-effectively”. But: “I think you have to look after the winter: is that the right measure for the next winter?” It will also be ambitious for him to guarantee the heating period.
