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| EU faces awful winters without gas cap - minister | EU faces awful winters without gas cap - minister |
| (6 months later) | |
| Facade lighting of the Frauenkirche, Church of Our Lady, is switched off to save energy in Dresden, Germany | Facade lighting of the Frauenkirche, Church of Our Lady, is switched off to save energy in Dresden, Germany |
| European Union countries will face five to 10 terrible winters if nothing is done to reduce gas prices, Belgium's energy minister says. | European Union countries will face five to 10 terrible winters if nothing is done to reduce gas prices, Belgium's energy minister says. |
| Tinne Van der Straeten said gas prices should be frozen and not used to dictate the price of electricity. | Tinne Van der Straeten said gas prices should be frozen and not used to dictate the price of electricity. |
| EU states have been struggling with huge energy price hikes since key gas supplier Russia invaded Ukraine in February, triggering sanctions. | EU states have been struggling with huge energy price hikes since key gas supplier Russia invaded Ukraine in February, triggering sanctions. |
| Countries backing Ukraine are trying to cut imports of Russian gas and oil. | Countries backing Ukraine are trying to cut imports of Russian gas and oil. |
| Russia, which supplied the EU with 40% of its gas last year, has in turn restricted supplies. | Russia, which supplied the EU with 40% of its gas last year, has in turn restricted supplies. |
| As well as gas, electricity prices have reached record highs. | As well as gas, electricity prices have reached record highs. |
| Natural gas is still widely used to generate electricity. Because gas prices have risen, this costs more. | Natural gas is still widely used to generate electricity. Because gas prices have risen, this costs more. |
| Significantly, this price is used when buying electricity wholesale even when it comes from much cheaper renewable resources. | Significantly, this price is used when buying electricity wholesale even when it comes from much cheaper renewable resources. |
| "We have to stop this madness that is happening right now on energy markets," Austria's Chancellor Karl Nehammer said. | "We have to stop this madness that is happening right now on energy markets," Austria's Chancellor Karl Nehammer said. |
| "We cannot let [Russian President Vladimir] Putin determine the European electricity price every day," he added. | "We cannot let [Russian President Vladimir] Putin determine the European electricity price every day," he added. |
| EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also criticised the method used to price electricity being sold on the EU market. | EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also criticised the method used to price electricity being sold on the EU market. |
| Speaking to reporters in Slovenia, she said the bloc was preparing "structural" emergency reforms that would tackle high costs - but did not give further details. | Speaking to reporters in Slovenia, she said the bloc was preparing "structural" emergency reforms that would tackle high costs - but did not give further details. |
| Can the world cope without Russian gas and oil? | Can the world cope without Russian gas and oil? |
| Germany - the largest importer of Russian gas in 2020 - has been racing to bolster its gas reserves before winter despite Russia cutting deliveries. | Germany - the largest importer of Russian gas in 2020 - has been racing to bolster its gas reserves before winter despite Russia cutting deliveries. |
| Its aim is to fill its gas capacity to 85% by October. It has implemented energy-saving measures to do so. | Its aim is to fill its gas capacity to 85% by October. It has implemented energy-saving measures to do so. |
| Economy Minister Robert Habeck said such measures - along with buying gas from alternative suppliers - had enabled Germany to fulfil its goal sooner than anticipated. | Economy Minister Robert Habeck said such measures - along with buying gas from alternative suppliers - had enabled Germany to fulfil its goal sooner than anticipated. |
| He estimated that the 85% target could be reached by the start of September. | He estimated that the 85% target could be reached by the start of September. |
| Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander de Croo last week warned that people should "hope for the best and prepare for the worst". | Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander de Croo last week warned that people should "hope for the best and prepare for the worst". |
| And the French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne told business leaders on Monday to submit energy-saving plans by next month - otherwise there could be rationing. | And the French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne told business leaders on Monday to submit energy-saving plans by next month - otherwise there could be rationing. |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
| Serious rationing of energy possible this winter, says IEA head. | Serious rationing of energy possible this winter, says IEA head. |
| Serious rationing of energy possible this winter, says IEA head. | Serious rationing of energy possible this winter, says IEA head. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Europe | Europe |
| Electricity pricing | Electricity pricing |
| Austria | Austria |
| War in Ukraine | |
| Germany | Germany |
| Russia | Russia |
| European Union | European Union |
| Natural gas | Natural gas |
| Belgium | Belgium |