Germany to begin rationing gas as Russia cuts supply

Berlin: Germany has announced that it is now closer to rationing gas after it raised the alert level under an emergency plan after Russia slashed supplies to the country, Al Jazeera reported on Thursday.
German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said that “Gas is now a scarce commodity in Germany”.
Triggering the second “alarm” level under its action plan brings Germany a step closer to the third and final stage that could see gas rationing in Europe’s top economy.
This development reflects a “significant deterioration of the gas supply situation”, Habeck said.
Germany, like several other European countries, is heavily reliant on Russian energy imports to meet most of its energy needs.
Russian energy giant Gazprom last week reduced supplies to Germany via the Nord Stream pipeline by 60 percent citing repair works on the pipeline. Germany has brushed aside the technical justification for the move, instead calling it a “political decision”, accusing Russia of using gas “as a weapon” against Germany in retaliation for the West’s support for Ukraine following Moscow’s invasion, Habeck said, with the aim of “destroying” European unity.
Gazprom has already stopped deliveries to a number of European countries, including Poland, Bulgaria, Finland and the Netherlands. (UNI)