The European Union has developed a plan for emergency measures to support the economy in case of sudden termination of gas supplies from Russia, writes Bloomberg with a link to the draft of the relevant document.
In Brussels, they sometimes believe that the risk of the corresponding decision is quite large. To prepare for such a scenario, the European Commission decided to recommend additional measures that the region can take to reduce gas consumption and reduce costs for enterprises and the population. According to the document, immediate actions can reduce the influence from sudden interruptions with supplies by a third. Joint decisions at the EU level, adopted at the stage of filling the storage facilities, will help to soften the blow later in the winter, if the pumping of gas from Russia stops. According to the forecasts of European experts, if deliveries are interrupted in July, then by the beginning of November, the storage facilities will be filled with within 71%, which is 80%lower than the target. If the problems arise later, starting in October, then the risks of shortage will be lower, but there will be less time to rectify the situation.
“everyone can save gas – even representatives of vulnerable sectors, for example, private consumers, buildings that local authorities are disposed of, spheres that have the opportunity to use other fuel, as well as, depending on the context of a particular state, an electric sector,” the say says In the document. In addition to the possibilities of using other fuel for the sake of gas savings, the EC proposes to conduct wide information companies to reduce energy costs for heating and air conditioning, and also recommends considering mandatory limits in critical situations.