The technical objectives of STEP are: to deliver predictable net electricity greater than 100 MW; to innovate to exploit fusion energy beyond electricity production; to ensure tritium self-sufficiency; to qualify materials and components under appropriate fusion conditions; and to develop a viable path to affordable lifecycle costs.

"If a decision is made to start deliveries through Nord Stream 2's line B, natural gas will be pumped into the pipeline after the integrity of the system has been checked and verified by supervisory authorities," it said.

The current gas crisis also casts longer-term uncertainty on the prospects for natural gas, especially in developing markets where its use was expected to rise at least in the medium term as it replaced other higher-emission fossil fuels.

The halt in deliveries to Italy is the latest disruption to Russian gas flows to Europe after supplies were already halted via the Yamal-Europe and Nord Stream pipelines earlier this year and deliveries via Ukraine sharply curtailed.

In a spokesman for the Kremlin last week where Europe was threatened about how difficult it would be to face the coming winter.

Benchmark futures declined as much as 5.9%. Ministers supported measures including a power-demand reduction goal and a profit grab from energy companies, and said more was likely this week.

The cap must cover all market revenues of producers and intermediaries participating in electricity wholesale markets, "regardless of the market timeframe in which the transaction takes place and of whether the electricity is traded bilaterally or in a centralized marketplace," the text said.

"On the price cap, there is nothing near a consensus," a diplomat from one EU country said.

The 27-nation bloc has already agreed on a voluntary target to cut gas consumption by 15% after Russia, its biggest supplier, cut shipments following the invasion of Ukraine. Still, more action is needed to contain the energy crunch that’s fueling inflation and risks recession.

Benchmark prices declined as much as 6.4%, after rising 19% over the previous two days.

Despite the fact neither Nord Stream nor Nord Stream 2 were flowing gas to Europe at the time of the incidents, gas prices rose as much as 9% in early trading Sept. 27.

According to agreement, the two plants are to be transferred to an operational reserve after the end of their regular service life on 31 December in order to prevent an impending power grid bottleneck in southern Germany.

Dutch front-month gas, the European benchmark, rose 11% to 206 euros per megawatt-hour at 8:47 a.m. in Amsterdam. Price increased 7.1% on Tuesday.

The currently out-of-action Nord Stream pipeline system was damaged, with Germany saying it suspected it was an act of sabotage.

Naftogaz and Gazprom signed in December 2019 a gas transit agreement under ship-or-pay terms, meaning Gazprom is obliged to pay for transit whether it uses it or not.