European Union governments are facing the risk of a splintering energy market as Russian cuts in natural-gas supplies test the bloc's unity in response to the war inUkraine.
There has been an increase in gas supply disruptions after the EU imposed sanctions on Russia. The EU energy ministers will meet in Luxembourg on Monday.
Peak heating and lighting demand in the winter can be met with sufficient reserves. As a buffer, they allow gas to move across borders within the EU to ensure there's enough supply. If the crisis gets worse, countries can help each other.
A situation where countries close their energy market borders in the event of a full interruption of Russian flows is the main risk facing Europe.
Member states have been told to update their contingency plans. It wants to propose how the EU could reduce demand.
EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said on Monday that the bloc needs to reduce demand because there isn't enough gas to replace Russian flows in the event of a cut-off.
She said the situation was serious. It is possible that the flows will fall even further. We have to increase our response. Russia has decided to use blackmail. We have to make sure we are ready for anything.
Russia's use of energy as a weapon to the top of the EU's agenda has been caused by inflation-fueling record gas and power prices. Germany raised its gas-risk alert to the second- highest level last week after 12 member states were affected bytailed Russian shipments.
The risks of deeper supply cuts are increasing as Russia prepares to shut down the Nord Stream line for 10 days next month. Benchmark gas prices in Europe were up 2.5% as of 10:00 a.m. Last week, they rose 9%.
Tomas Prouza, advisor to the industry minister in the Czech Republic, which will take over the rotating EU presidency in July, said that this winter will be a make or break time for the EU.
Europe has always been reliant on gas imports.
The Statistical Review of World Energy is published by the British energy company.
There were more warnings last week.
Robert Habeck doesn't know if Russia will resume shipments after the work on theNord Stream is done. The prime minister of Greece called for a united approach.
He said after the EU summit that "not every country can move on its own."
Coal power plants are being revived due to reduced Russian flows.
Europe will not be able to reach its 80% storage filling target by the end of the month. The region could run out of gas in the middle of winter.
Tagliapietra said that more intervention would be needed to meet the target. Emergency plans may be put in place in some EU countries to further reduce demand and allocate gas between countries.
With help from Paul and Anna.
(Updates with gas prices in the 9th paragraph.)
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