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Residential area in Königshain, Saxony (in December 2021)
Photo: Florian Gaertner / Photothek via Getty Images
No gas is currently flowing from Russia to Germany through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, it is being serviced routinely.
However, it is unclear whether Gazprom will put them back into operation.
Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) calls for energy saving in view of the situation - and warns of a possible gas shortage in winter.
A large majority of Germans take the warnings seriously.
Almost two thirds are worried that even private households will not be able to get enough gas during the cold season, according to a survey by the opinion research institute Civey for SPIEGEL.
63 percent stated that they had “major” or “rather major” worries.
26 percent are not afraid of an undersupply, 11 percent are undecided
(you can find background information on the Civey method here).
There is also a recognizable difference between the sexes: 67 percent of women are very or rather very worried, among men it is only 58 percent.
In the event of a gas shortage in winter, private consumers and critical infrastructure – unlike industry – should be given special protection.
Economics Minister Habeck made it clear this week that private customers also have to make a contribution to saving gas.
more on the subject
Immediate program for climate protection: Federal government wants to ban new gas heating systems from 2024By Henning Jauernig and Gerald Traufetter
Wood-burning stoves, fan heaters and heat pumps: How to prepare for a cold winterBy Henning Jauernig and Stefan Kaiser
One must consider the consequences of a long-term interruption of industrial production, said Habeck.
The federal government could intervene with a regulation – and make specifications for heating temperatures, among other things.
Despite the impending gas shortage, the majority of Germans are still against the use of fracking technology - a controversial gas production method that is currently banned nationwide but is used in the USA, for example (read more about it here).
55 percent think fracking should remain banned in Germany.
34 percent are in favor of fracking, eleven percent undecided.
Green and Left voters most often reject fracking.
Among the Liberals, a majority tends to be in favour.
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