Politically, winter is coming: German Economy Minister

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
23 Jun 2022 18:59

As Germany was already facing a winter gas crisis, Economy Minister Robert Habeck warns that risks will get even bigger without Russian gas supplies.

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck (Archive)

Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habeck said on Thursday that winter in Germany is coming politically, stressing that the energy crisis is already underway in Germany.

During a plenary session at Parliament, the Minister stated, "It's summer now, we want to walk, we want to be free again after two years of the pandemic, but winter is coming. As soon as now. Politically, it is standing at the door. And we must resolve the paradox by ensuring that we must take action now, although right now it is imperceptible, we will need it in winter."

"We have a gas crisis in Germany although supply security is currently guaranteed, and the filling level of gas storage facilities is increasing," the Minister said.

If after the completion of the traditional maintenance work on the Nord Stream gas pipeline in July "there will be an aggravation of the situation," then "we will find ourselves in a scenario where we will not have enough gas to survive the winter," he concluded.

It is worth noting that German Economy Minister Robert Habeck warned, in March, that Germany cannot yet halt Russian gas supplies, or it will face shortages that will prevent the country from supporting its industry and heating homes next winter.

Germany has lately declared its intention to diversify its energy supply sources in order to reduce its so-called energy dependence on Russia amid the war in Ukraine.