Europe could face energy rationing as ‘really tough winter’ looms, Shell boss warns

European consumers face the prospect of fuel rationing this winter. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

European consumers could face energy rationing this winter as costs continue to soar amid the risk of Russia cutting off gas supplies, Shell’s chief executive has warned.

“It will be a really tough winter in Europe,” Ben van Beurden told the Aurora spring conference in Oxford on Thursday. “We will all face very significant escalation in energy prices. In the worst case, Europe will need to ration its energy consumption.”