At worst, so far, at least, her victim energy crisis the German company Uniper is developing, having announced yesterday about losses in the amount of 12.3 billion euros for the first half of the year. The reason, of course, is the interruption in supply. natural gas from Russia which, as stressed by the CEO of the energy company, turned Uniper into a “pawn” in a tug-of-war between the EU and the EU. and Moscow.

Last month, Berlin decided to give Uniper a €15bn state bailout as the German company, which normally imports the largest amount of Russian gas in Europe, was literally brought to its knees financially when it was forced to pay much more high prices. to buy energy from other suppliers. “For large oil and gas companies operating around the world, these losses can be bearable, but there is no energy industry in Germany that has not been brought to its knees by something like this,” said CEO Klaus Dieter Mobach. that Uniper is considering going to court against Russian giant Gazprom.

The situation with Uniper, and in particular the state aid that Berlin was forced to provide, exposed Germany’s dependence on Russian gas, which accounted for about 55% of its total needs last year. He also refers to a similar case of the French energy company Electricite de France, which a few days ago reported a loss of 5.3 billion euros for the first half of the year. The energy crisis, soaring energy prices and tensions with Moscow hit EdF at the most inopportune moment, forcing it, like many energy companies in Europe, to pay much higher prices for natural gas from other suppliers, while it has already suffered from power drops at its nuclear reactors due to problems and forced repairs.

Losses of 5.3 billion euros for the first half were also announced a few days ago by the French EdF.

The financial difficulties of major European energy companies tend to justify German Economy Minister Robert Habeck, who warned two months ago that Russia’s policy of reducing gas flows could become a European energy system for Lehman Brothers, as “energy companies are forced to buy gas at more expensive prices, their losses are constantly increasing, and they can collapse en masse.” At the same time, in Britain, which a few months ago was forced to provide Energy Bulb with state aid in the amount of 2.2 billion pounds, which is equivalent to 2.6 billion euros, the Green Party is demanding the nationalization of the country’s five largest energy companies. As highlighted in a related Guardian report, the Greens’ proposal is much bolder than that of Labour, who have called for a “freeze” on electricity rates for households and businesses for at least six months. The Greens call the nationalization of British Gas, E.ON, EDF, Scottish Power and Ovo “essential” as part of an ambitious plan to “prevent catastrophe next winter.”