WSJ warned about the threat of a shortage of glass products in Europe due to the energy crisis

European automotive, container and skyscraper companies, not to mention artisanal glassblowers, are bracing for possible glass shortages amid problems with Russian gas supplies. The Wall Street Journal.

Glass is so ubiquitous — from windows, car windshields, computer and smartphone screens, to bottles of medicines, soft drinks and liquor — that some business executives and industry analysts fear severe shortages could lead to new supply chain disruptions.

“Withdrawal of Russian gas supplies to Germany will trigger a new spare parts crisis,” said Silja Pie, head of strategy for luxury car manufacturer Audi AG. She cited glass as an example.

The European Commission in July included glass production in its list of industries that will be given priority if there are problems with gas supplies this winter. Companies in industries heavily dependent on glass supplies are stockpiling, sometimes at great cost.

It is noted that gas is one of the key components for the production of glass, since this process consists in creating high temperatures to melt sand, soda ash and limestone.

Earlier, Bloomberg reported that the Austrian glass manufacturer Riedel can stop production due to the gas crisis in Europe. Vintage furnaces in which the manufacturer melts glass can fail if production has to be suspended due to a lack of energy resources.

On July 28, the European Commission released the final version of the Save Gas for a Safe Winter plan. Two days before, the EU members agreed on a political decision to reduce gas consumption, adopted it almost unanimously, only Hungary was against it. The plan calls on countries to cut their gas consumption by 15% between August 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023. The reference point is the average consumption in the same months over the past five years. And on August 5, the EU Council announced the adoption of this resolution by all members of the community.