Bild: Germany lacks 11 billion cubic meters of gas for the next heating season

Contracts for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Germany provide 75 billion cubic meters. m of gas per year, while the country needs 86 billion cubic meters. m, according to the newspaper Bild am Sonntag, citing a letter from the Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Robert Habek, which was received by the Bundestag.

As follows from the statistics cited in the letter, Germany lacks 11 billion cubic meters for the next heating season. m of gas.

“There is still no clarity on how to increase LNG imports,” – declared Representative of the block of the Christian Democratic and Christian Social Unions on energy issues Mark Helfrich (quote from TASS). The politician added that it depends on how the country will overcome the next heating season. According to him, with a shortage of gas in the fall, it will again be necessary to save energy, which will mean a reduction in production for the economy.

In March 2022, a three-stage gas savings plan was launched in Germany. The first stage provided for strict control over the storage, import and consumption of gas. In June, Habek announced the transition to the second stage of reducing gas consumption, which implies the recognition of “actually serious deterioration in the situation with gas supply.” As part of the third stage, an emergency regime may be introduced in the country with the restriction of consumption by industry in order to supply households and critical infrastructure with gas.

In autumn, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the country had freed itself from dependence on Russian gas. Habek noted that Germany plans to become independent of Russian energy sources by 2024. According to him, Germany is getting rid of dependence on Russian energy carriers with “lightning speed”.

In January to Germany at the terminal in Wilhelmshaven arrived the first batch of LNG from the United States, the press service of the German energy concern Uniper reported. About 97.1 million cubic meters were loaded onto the ship. m of natural gas, which is “enough to supply electricity to about 50,000 German households for one year.”