The President of the German Federal Network Agency Bundesnetzagentur, Klaus Muller, has said that the gas storage facilities are filled at around 65%. Muller stressed that the situation is “better” than what it was in the previous weeks, but that it is “still not enough to get through” the winter season without having Russian gas.
The Nord Stream office premises in Zug, Switzerland. Credit: Alexey M, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The President of the German Federal Network Agency Bundesnetzagentur, Klaus Muller, has said that the gas storage facilities are filled at around 65%. Muller stressed that the situation is “better” than what it was in the previous weeks, but that it is “still not enough to get through” the winter season without having Russian gas.
He underscored that the maintenance work of Nord Stream 1 is due to end on July 21 and emphasised that the situation is now dependent on the supply of gas after the resumption of the pipeline.
Speaking on the fears of people about heating being turned off during the winter season, Klaus Muller stressed that private households do not need to worry as they have been provided with gas for a longer time than industry. He stated that Germany will continue to import some gas from Norway and Holland even if the supply of gas stops from Russia.
He asserted that there is no possibility that Germany will remain without gas. Expressing his views about gas prices, Klaus Muller stated that there has not been a significant rise in price this week even after the shut down of Nord Stream 1. He further stated that Germany needs to review companies that need to be supplied with gas in case of a gas emergency.
Meanwhile, Klaus Muller said it cannot be said whether Russia will resume the supply of gas after maintenance. Earlier in June, Gazprom had reduced the supply of gas through Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany by 60%, blaming technical issues over equipment that Siemens Energy in Canada did not return to Moscow due to sanctions imposed against Russia.
German leaders refuted the claims of Russia and stressed that the decision was taken to further increase energy prices. Meanwhile, the Canadian government announced it had allowed Siemens to return the repaired Nord Stream 1 turbines to Germany.