The Russian gas company Gazprom has announced that it will further reduce gas supplies via the North Sea pipeline Nord Stream 1 from Wednesday. Then, instead of 40 percent, only 20 percent of the actually possible volume should flow – that is, only 33 million cubic meters of gas per day. Questions and answers about the consequences of this step:
Does this pose an acute threat to the gas supply in Germany?
no In summer, gas consumption in Germany is comparatively low because there is hardly any heating. That is why, according to the Federal Network Agency, it was not only possible to cover current gas requirements during the past few weeks, even during the complete stoppage of Russian gas supplies by Nords Stream 1 due to maintenance work, but also to pump a little gas into the storage facilities. However, only to a very small extent.
What are the long-term effects of the move?
That could be difficult. The head of the Federal Network Agency, Klaus Müller, recently warned: “Even at a level of 40 percent, we have to make considerable efforts to get through the first winter well.” If only 20 percent of the maximum capacity comes out of the pipeline, it will be correspondingly more difficult. Filling up the gas tanks in particular could become a problem.
The federal government has set a storage level of at least 95 percent as a target for November 1st. That is unrealistic, even if 40 percent of the delivery capacity flows through the pipeline, said Müller at a crisis summit of the Baden-Württemberg state government. In the best case, a maximum of 80 to 85 percent is possible. If the delivery is halved, this goal will also be difficult to achieve.
What does it mean for gas prices?
Gas prices on the energy exchanges are likely to rise again. “It would be surprising if nothing happened,” said Florian Starck from the Check24 price portal. Because the demand for gas is relatively constant, and now a replacement must be found for the failure of Russian gas. That drives the prices.
