Η Germany will need to reduce the natural gas consumption more than any other member state of the European Union To achieve the goal of reducing the quantity purchased to date by 15%, the German Agency estimates, based on data from the European Commission.
Berlin will have to find a way to save 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas from the beginning of this month through March 2023 in order to meet theset by Brussels. This amount is equivalent to the average annual consumption of 5 million four-person households.
Due to its high gas consumption, Europe’s largest economy is called upon to make greater savings than any other EU country, as it must account for nearly a quarter of the total savings required across the Old Continent.
German Economy Minister Robert Habeck has assured that Germany is already on track to reduce consumption by 14 to 15% compared to 2021. However, last week Mr. Habeck said that Berlin aims to reduce consumption by a percentage of the agreed minimum threshold (15%).
The president of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), Siegfried Rousworm, called on the government to expedite energy-saving measures and warned that companies trying to switch from natural gas to diesel are facing obstacles and delays due to bureaucracy.
According to Mr. Rousvourm, measures such as replacing gas-fired power plants with coal-fired ones will be necessary.
«This is not the kind of speed Germany needs in crisis management,» said the head of the BDI. «Germany is in the midst of the biggest energy crisis since the founding of the Federal Republic. Businesses and consumers must do their part to conserve gas in order to prevent production disruptions. »It’s a matter of determination and speed,” said Mr. Rousvourm.
