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Natural gas shortage Germany plans to introduce stricter energy-saving measures

author:Bright Net

Beijing, 13 Aug (Xinhua) -- German government officials said on 12 August that in view of the sharp reduction in natural gas imports from Russia, the government will introduce new energy-saving measures in order to reduce consumption and strive for a smooth winter.

German Deputy Chancellor and Minister of Economy and Climate Protection Robert Habeck said in a recent interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung that Germany will take a number of energy-saving measures, such as heating public facilities must not exceed 19 degrees Celsius.

Natural gas shortage Germany plans to introduce stricter energy-saving measures

This is the old town hall in Munich, Germany, taken on the evening of July 30. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Philippe Ruiz)

Reuters reported on the 12th with a number of Economic Ministry officials as the source that according to the requirements of the new measures, unless in hospitals or nursing institutions, building corridors and halls, private pools should not be heated; Turn off decorative lighting of buildings and monuments; Close the electronic billboard from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. every night.

Natural gas shortage Germany plans to introduce stricter energy-saving measures

People ride under the Unter den Linden in Berlin, Germany, on April 28. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ren Pengfei

In order to sanction Russia, the European Union has decided to gradually reduce its imports of Russian energy. However, EU countries such as Germany have long been highly dependent on Russian energy supplies, and it is not easy to cut imports.

According to Reuters, about half of Germany's total natural gas imports in recent years have come from Russia. Natural gas accounts for about a third of Germany's industrial energy, and about half of German households use natural gas for heating.

Natural gas shortage Germany plans to introduce stricter energy-saving measures

A man refuels at a gas station in the German capital, Berlin, on May 11. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Stefan Zetz)

According to German government officials, to avoid the implementation of energy rationing in the face of gas shortages, Germany's natural gas consumption will be 20% less than before the escalation of the crisis in Ukraine.

According to Reuters, German natural gas consumption has shrunk by about 8% due to the sharp rise in natural gas prices, and it is expected that industrial and household energy conservation measures can reduce natural gas consumption by 5% to 10%, while switching to coal power generation is expected to make up for 3% to 5%. The German government approved in July to restart or extend operations of more than a dozen coal plants that were scheduled to be phased out. (Liu Xiuling)

Source: Xinhua News Agency

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