(Reuters) – The European Union has set out emergency plans for countries to cut their gas use by 15% until March, warning them that without deep reductions they could struggle for fuel during winter if Russia halts supply.
Gas deliveries are due to restart through Russia’s Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany on Thursday, after annual maintenance. Sources told Reuters that flows would likely resume, despite some governments’ fears they would not, but at below full capacity.
The European Union has rules to prevent and respond to a disruption in gas supplies. It sets out three levels of crisis: an early warning, alert and emergency. Member states are required to have plans in place for how they would manage the impact of a supply disruption at the three crisis levels.
Eleven EU countries have activated the first step in gas supply alert levels: Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Sweden, while Germany has activated stage two.
Following is a summary of actions by some European governments (in alphabetical order):
AUSTRIA
Austria, which gets around 80% of its gas from Russia, has activated the first step of a three-stage emergency plan. It will order industry and utilities to make plants run on alternatives to natural gas where possible.
BULGARIA
The country, which meets over 90% of its gas needs from Russia, has agreed to purchase U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) and has stepped up talks with Azerbaijan to increase gas deliveries.
CZECH REPUBLIC
The government has backed a bill that would allow the ministry to put in place measures to prevent an emergency in the heating sector and could allow coal-fired plants that are set to be shut down next year due to breaching emission limits to continue to operate.
DENMARK
Denmark’s energy agency has activated the first step of a three-stage emergency gas supply plan and has urged consumers and companies to reduce consumption.
FINLAND
Finland and the Baltic states will postpone summer maintenance on a major gas pipeline to help secure supplies.
FRANCE
France is working on contingency plans for cuts to Russian gas flows as top bosses at energy companies urge individuals and businesses to reduce power use.
France is less reliant than some of its neighbours on gas imports from Russia, which account for about 17% of its gas consumption.
GERMANY
Germany, which relies on Russia for 55% of its gas needs, has entered Phase 2 of its three-stage emergency gas plan.
The Phase 2 “alarm stage” kicks in when the government sees a high risk of long-term supply shortages of gas. Under the plan, Germany will provide a credit line of 15 billion euros ($15.8 billion) to fill gas storage facilities. A gas auction model will be launched this summer to encourage industrial gas consumers to save gas.
GREECE
Under a contingency plan, Greece, which uses gas mainly for power generation, would get additional quantities of LNG and switch four gas-fired plants to diesel. It will also ramp up coal mining in the next two years as a temporary measure.
A long-delayed gas pipeline between Greece and Bulgaria has been completed and can start commercial operations this month.
ITALY
Italy, which gets around 40% of its gas needs from Russia, has also activated the first stage of its emergency gas plan. Algeria will provide Italy with an additional four billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas this year, on top of the 21 bcm planned previously, an official source told Reuters.
NETHERLANDS
The Netherlands has activated the early warning phase of its energy crisis plan and lift a cap on production by coal-fired power plants. It imports 15% of its gas from Russia.
The Groningen gas field could also be used to help supply neighbouring countries but increasing production could risk earthquakes.
POLAND
Poland does not plan to initiate its 12-step emergency procedure that leads to gas rationing. Baltic Pipe, the gas pipeline linking Poland and Norway, will be filled to its capacity of 10 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 2023.
SPAIN AND PORTUGAL
Neither country on the Iberian peninsula counts Russia among its main providers. However, Portugal’s Sines port is ready to start onward shipment of LNG to head to other European states, a government spokesman said.
SWEDEN
Sweden has also activated the first stage of the three-part emergency plan.
SWITZERLAND
Switzerland could resort to rolling four-hour regional blackouts should Europe’s energy crisis lead to winter power shortages, a senior utility sector official said.
(Reporting by Nina Chestney, Editing by Barbara Lewis)
