Europe is preparing to cut winter gas use after Russia failed to reopen a crucial pipeline yesterday in an ongoing “weaponisation of energy”.
Germany and France aim to lower heat in public buildings, while Italy plans to close them early and cut street lighting by 40%.
Germans have been told to reduce usage.
The Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany had been shut for three days for “maintenance work”. But Russia’s state energy firm Gazprom now says it has a leak – meaning it could be closed indefinitely.
Energy prices have soared since Russia invaded Ukraine in February and scarce supplies mean families in Europe may be priced out of heating this winter.
The EU has accused Russia of using its gas supplies as an economic weapon against Western nations backing Kyiv.
The European commissioner for the economy, Paolo Gentiloni, said they expect Russia to respect energy contracts but warned: “If weaponisation of energy continues or increases, the EU is ready to react.”
The UK is not reliant on Russia for gas but the pipeline closure may have hit UK customers by pushing up wholesale gas prices.
Gazprom’s announcement came shortly after the G7 nations agreed to a price cap on Russian oil, aimed at slashing revenues for President Vladimir Putin ’s war in Ukraine.
Energy analyst Cornelia Meyer said the gas shutdown would have a major impact.
Moscow blames sanctions for holding up routine maintenance of Nord Stream 1.
Meanwhile, UN safety inspectors are trying to check the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine. Its fifth reactor was reconnected on Friday, a day after it was shut down amid shelling that raised the risk of a nuclear catastrophe in Europe.
