Work on the 759-mile (1,220 km) pipeline is an annual event and requires gas taps to be shut off for 10 to 14 days. But never before in the pipeline’s ten-year history has Germany seriously questioned whether the flow will start again. Robert Habeck, Germany’s economy minister, did not shy away from addressing the government’s concerns. On Saturday, he spoke of the “nightmare scenario” that could happen. “Everything is possible, everything can happen,” Hambeck told broadcaster Deutschlandfunk. “Maybe the gas is flowing again, maybe more than before. Nothing may also come. “We have to honestly prepare for the worst case scenario and do our best to try to deal with the situation.” Contingency plans are quickly being drawn up across Germany, where there are real concerns that Moscow may use the opportunity for further gas weapons as leverage against the West in its war with Ukraine and cut off supplies permanently. Russian gas is vital to the running of Germany’s economy as well as keeping the majority of homes warm. Flows through the pipeline have declined in recent months to about 40% of normal levels. Russia has blamed sanctions for the reduced flow, saying they have blocked its access to spare parts. On Saturday, Canada said in consultation with Germany and the International Energy Agency that it would issue a temporary exemption from sanctions against Russia to allow the return from Montreal of a repaired Russian turbine needed for maintenance work. On Friday, the Kremlin said it would increase gas supplies to Europe once the turbine returns to Russia. Ukraine has objected to this, arguing that it helps continue the continent’s dependence on Russian gas. But Canada’s natural resources minister, Jonathan Wilkinson, said the permit is “time-limited” and will help “Europe’s ability to access reliable and affordable energy as it continues to move away from Russian oil and gas ». Since the start of the war in February, Germany has been working to reduce its dependence on Russian gas, including by building liquefied natural gas (LNG) ports. On Friday, emergency legislation passed both houses of parliament to allow mothballed power plants to be restarted, despite the coal intensity. But the overall withdrawal process was complex and slow. The short-term goal is to try to replenish stocks in Germany’s gas storage facilities to last through the winter. The most recent measurement, released by the Federal Network Agency on Friday, showed storage facilities at 63 percent capacity. The goal is 90% by November 1st. The long-term goal is to reduce dependence on natural gas by increasing renewable energy production, in part by redefining sectors as vital to national security. Subscribe to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7am. BST German industry and households consume about two-thirds of the country’s natural gas supplies. Plans are already in place to prioritize who gets access to natural gas in the event of an outage. Hospitals and emergency services top the list, while households rank above most industrial concerns. But more locally, as authorities grapple with rising energy costs and the challenge of how to cope if households are left out in the cold this winter, emergency plans are being put in place that include everything from closing swimming pools, turning off of lamps and lanterns. , and housing civilians in industrial-scale dormitories. Not long ago, intended for coronavirus patients, the makeshift containers have been described as “warm rooms” or “warm islands”. Meanwhile, demand for anything heated without natural gas is at an all-time high, including electric and oil heaters, infrared panels and convectors, as well as basic camping stoves. Wood stove and heat pump installers report long waiting lists and report chronic parts shortages, as well as a lack of skilled personnel.
