Germany close to gas rationing as it activates emergency fuel plan

Germany’s economic minister, Robert Habeck, has told businesses and consumers that ‘every kilowatt hour counts’. Photograph: Bernd von Jutrczenka/AP

Germany and Austria moved a step closer to gas rationing on Wednesday, after activating an emergency plan designed to help it cope with any disruption in supplies from Russia.

Amid fears of a looming showdown with Vladimir Putin over gas flows, Germany’s economy minister, Robert Habeck, convened a crisis team and warned consumers and businesses to reduce consumption, telling them “every kilowatt hour counts”.