Possible boycott of Russian natural gas: federal government is working on a shutdown plan for German industry
Created: 03/19/2022, 11:04 am
By: Thomas Schmidtutz
Natural gas supply line in front of the Stuttgart-Gaisburg combined heat and power plant: Because of the Ukraine war, concerns are growing about a possible supply stop for Russian natural gas.
© Marijan Murat/dpa
Because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there are growing concerns in Germany about a possible supply freeze for Russian oil and gas.
Preparations for this scenario are underway.
Munich/Berlin - The federal government is preparing German companies for a possible failure of Russian gas supplies.
The
Handelsblatt
reported on Friday afternoon, citing industry and government circles.
The Federal Network Agency then confirmed “that talks to prepare for the crisis with industry and the energy sector are planned”.
The business newspaper quoted the authority as saying that it should be about "preparing for the event of unavoidable shutdowns of the industry in a gas supply crisis".
Ukraine-News: Federal Network Agency takes precautions for emergencies
The Federal Network Agency is already considering which companies should be taken off the grid first in an emergency.
On Friday, representatives of the Federal Network Agency and the Ministry of Economic Affairs met with representatives of the Federation of German Industries (BDI) and the Federal Association of Energy and Water Management to discuss how to proceed in a possible crisis.
First of all, however, they want to create criteria according to which a shutdown could take place.
For example, one has to think about whether a company in the food industry should be treated differently than a tire manufacturer, according to the report.
Ukraine-News: Great dependency on Russian gas supplies
In an international comparison, Germany is very dependent on Russian gas supplies.
In 2020, around 55 percent of German natural gas imports came from the giant empire.
The consequences of a possible delivery failure as a result of the Ukraine war* would be correspondingly large.
With the "Gas Emergency Plan for the Federal Republic of Germany" there are basic requirements that regulate three levels of crisis (early warning, alarm, emergency) as well as "sovereign intervention options" in the event of gas supply bottlenecks.
However, a possible implementation of the measures and delivery restrictions for companies has so far been largely open.
That should change now.
Ukraine News: Households should be given preference in the event of possible delivery bottlenecks
However, private households do not have to worry about emergencies either.
"Household customers", the
Handelsblatt
quotes the Federal Network Agency, "are subject to special legal protection in such a situation and are given priority".
*Merkur.de is part of IPPEN.MEDIA.
also read
Ukraine-News: Kremlin wants to copy McDonald's - with the Uncle Vanya brand
McDonald's pulled out of Russia because of the Ukraine war.
Now the Kremlin is planning its own alternative to the US fast food chain.
Ukraine-News: Kremlin wants to copy McDonald's - with the Uncle Vanya brand
Bacteria catapult in the face: on which everyday object more germs lurk than on the mobile phone display
We touch countless things every day.
Some of them are a true germ paradise.
Online retailer Lenstore has researched where most bacteria accumulate.
Bacteria catapult in the face: on which everyday object more germs lurk than on the mobile phone display
