Gas crisis: Politicians prepare the population for "difficult times" in winter

Created: 07/11/2022, 08:54

By: Lukas Zigo

How is Germany getting through the winter?

Politicians are struggling to get heating rooms, extended service lives for nuclear power plants and a ban on gas barriers for private consumers.

BERLIN – Russia's war against Ukraine has made Germany's dependence on Russian gas a supply and security issue.

While Germany would like to completely phase out nuclear energy by the end of the year, the supply of gas from pipelines such as Nord Stream is by no means guaranteed.

In view of this fact, there is further pressure from the FDP and the Union to consider extending the service life of the remaining nuclear power plants.

At the same time, there is a debate about how social hardship can be cushioned, especially with regard to a possible worsening of the situation in winter.

In the ARD summer interview on Sunday (July 10, 2022), CSU boss Markus Söder issued a warning: "It's a real chaos that's in front of us in winter.

And my feeling and concern is simply that the seriousness of the situation has not yet reached everyone.”

FDP parliamentary group leader: Must "do everything to get through the winter well"

Meanwhile, the deputy leader of the FDP parliamentary group, Lukas Köhler, called on the

to take decisive action.

In view of the impending gas shortage, politicians must "do everything to get through the winter well".

According to Köhler, this also includes “an ideology-free debate about whether we need to extend the nuclear power plants that are still in operation this winter.

They are not a panacea, but in the event of a shortage, the gas must be available to heat homes and for industry”.

A man turns the thermostat of a heating system in an apartment.

© Hauke-Christian Dittrich/dpa

Markus Söder said he saw no point in "switching off electricity for 10 million households - these are the three nuclear power plants that are still there".

Nuclear power plant extension – Greens see “major economic, legal and safety risks”

Meanwhile, Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck and Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (both Green) had advised against longer nuclear power plant runtimes.

"A small contribution to energy supply would be opposed to major economic, legal and safety risks," said the ministries in an audit report.

The three operators of the nuclear power plants also rejected continued operation.

Söder criticized the rejection of the Greens: "That is a purely ideological position."

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Support was voiced for Lemke's push for a moratorium on gas and electricity cuts.

The minister, who is also responsible for consumer protection, wants to protect citizens from such bans if price guarantees by suppliers cannot be met.

"Electricity and energy cuts are a barbaric act. (...) you have to ban them," said the general manager of the Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband, Ulrich Schneider, of the Frankfurter Rundschau.

A moratorium could help in the short term, as was the case for rent payments during an early phase of the corona pandemic.

Lemke: You have to be prepared for “difficult times” in winter

The gas supply is currently secured, but one has to be prepared for “difficult times” in winter, when consumers need special protection, Lemke told

.

Linke leader Janine Wissler also told the

she believes a ban on gas and electricity cuts is the right way to protect people "at least for the moment in an existential situation".

"However, without ongoing support, such as a long-overdue social climate bonus, many will not get out of the trap of not being able to pay their high bills." enrich.

Union faction sees heat islands critically: "Nobody should have to freeze in their four walls"

One measure proposed by the Association of Towns and Municipalities is “heat islands” for the poor in the event of a very cold winter.

The federal government had brought this into play in view of the impending gas shortage and high energy prices, especially for older people.

The economic policy spokeswoman for the Union faction, Julia Klöckner, sees this critically: “Providing heat islands for the poor can certainly not be the solution, we should not let it get that far in Germany.

Nobody should have to freeze in their four walls," she told the

.

Andreas Jung (CDU), energy policy spokesman for the Union faction, demanded in the

: "The coalition must immediately implement an energy saving plan for all federal buildings and agree on a national gas savings pact with the federal states and municipal umbrella organizations." (lz / dpa)