2022-02-10 15:15:00
GERMANY'S GAS STORAGE DROPS
DS - FEB 09, 2022 - Germany’s gas storage has dropped to a "worrying" level, an economy ministry spokesperson said Wednesday, as fears over a possible invasion of Ukraine by Russia put further pressure on energy supplies.
"Of course, we are monitoring the situation of the storage levels and that is certainly worrying," said the spokesperson during a regular government press conference.
Stocks were now at 35%-36%, under the "critical level" of 40%, which the German government deems is necessary to withstand seven straight days of an extreme cold snap.
To overcome a 30-day streak of more moderate cold weather, the storage should be half full.
Stocks never slid below 71% in 2020, according to data from the industry group Gas Infrastructure Europe.
With around 40% of gas consumed in Europe coming from Russia, Moscow is suspected of taking advantage of the tensions on the world market to reduce supply and drive up prices.
In an interview this week with Die Zeit weekly, EU leader Ursula von der Leyen said that there are "increasingly signs that the Kremlin is using gas deliveries as political leverage."
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Earlier:
2022, February, 1, 14:50:00
NORD STREAM 2 UNDER THREAT
In a recent twist, Berlin is no longer ruling out shelving the pipeline project. But Europe is currently facing a winter energy crunch. Prices of natural gas have skyrocketed in recent months, and stockpiles in EU countries are at a five-year low.
2022, January, 24, 12:15:00
GERMANY AGAINST NUCLEAR
"As the federal government, we have once again clearly expressed our rejection of the inclusion of nuclear energy. It is risky and expensive," Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habeck said in a joint statement with Environment Minister Steffi Lemke, both senior members of the Greens party.
2022, January, 14, 12:15:00
NORD STREAM 2 SANCTIONS FALL
Efforts to impose sanctions on the Nord Stream 2, an undersea gas pipeline from Russia to Germany that would give Moscow enormous leverage over Europe, have long drawn bipartisan support on Capitol Hill,
2022, January, 13, 14:10:00
GERMANY RENEWABLES DEVELOPMENT
Habeck said it was “completely indisputable” Germany will need more gas-fired power plants as a “backup” solution in case supply from renewables isn't sufficient.
2022, January, 11, 11:55:00
GERMANY'S NUCLEAR DOWN
Germany will have just three nuclear power plants operating in 2022: Emsland (1406MW PWR) in Lower Saxony; Isar 2 (1485MW PWR) in Bavaria and Neckarwestheim 2 (1400MW PWR) in Baden-Württemberg.
2022, January, 11, 11:35:00
GERMANY'S RENEWABLES 43% IN 2021
The share of renewables in the power mix declined from 48% in 2020 to less than 43% in 2021, with 23% of wind, 9% of solar and 11% of biomass, hydropower and other renewables.
2021, December, 20, 12:25:00
NORD STREAM 2 FILLING
The operator Nord Stream 2 AG continues the necessary technical preparations for the pipeline ahead of its launch.
