Entering into force on Tuesday, August 9, the EU’s emergency plan to reduce natural gas consumption calls for all EU member states to voluntarily reduce their use by 15% from early August to March next year in compared to the average level of the last five years this year.

The aim of the plan is to reduce the risks that could arise in the event of a complete interruption of gas supplies from Russia, which has recently declined sharply. Meanwhile, EU member states are taking appropriate action at the national level.

Greece invites German pensioners

Probably the best energy-saving advice for Germany, which relies more on Russian gas supplies than any other in the EU, came from Greece. How about heading to Crete in winter for German retirees, many of whom are worried about new utility bills, suggested Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias.

Or better yet: why don’t they settle in Greece at once? Sun, sea, beaches and Greek cuisine – all this instead of spending huge sums for heating and hot water in Germany during its wet and dreary winter.

The backstory of the proposal that was expressed by Kikilias is quite serious: Athens is much better prepared than Berlin to implement the EU’s emergency plan to voluntarily reduce gas consumption by 15%. All Greek islands except Euboea do not have centralized gas supplies; houses are heated with diesel or electricity. And if it gets colder, many apartments have fireplaces.

A poignant tip for the Germans of Spain

Spain, like Portugal and Greece, initially opposed the European Commission’s gas austerity plan. Spanish Energy Minister Teresa Ribera summed up the attitude of southern EU states so condescendingly: “Unlike many other countries, Spaniards do not live beyond their means when it comes to energy supplies.”

LNG regasification plant in Barcelona

Madrid could make such a blunt comment to Germany: in recent years, the Spanish government has invested heavily in the infrastructure needed to receive large liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers from the US and other regions of the world.

The largest LNG regasification plant in Europe is located in Barcelona,​​and a third of all these plants currently in the EU are located in Spain. However, Ribera announced that, in an emergency, Spain would voluntarily reduce consumption by just 7-8%.

“General Mobilization” in France

France also has four LNG terminals. Since mid-June, it no longer receives pipeline gas directly from the Russian Federation, but at the same time it has become the world’s largest importer of Russian liquefied gas. A month ago, the leaders of the three largest local electricity supply companies appealed to the population with a request for rescue. Paris also announced the so-called “orange level” in the energy supply, which means the presence of a tense situation.

Emmanuel Macron

And President Emmanuel Macron went even further: on July 14, a national holiday, he called the French energy-saving plan a “general mobilization”.

French authorities plan to further diversify their energy supply, increase the use of renewable energy sources (RES) more quickly and fill gas storage facilities. At the same time, the French are asked to turn on the dishwasher only once a day and do not forget to turn off the lights.

Air conditioners in Italy no longer operate at full capacity

Italy, which received 48% of its imported gas from Russia before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, is, like Germany, delaying a planned phase-out of coal. There are seven coal-fired power plants in the country, some of which have already been closed or are running at low power.

But in public buildings in Italy since May 1, it has gotten a little warmer: it was decided that with the help of air conditioners it is no longer possible to cool the air in environments below 27 degrees Celsius (plus or minus two degrees). In winter, they will be heated so that the temperature does not exceed 19 degrees. Violators of these rules face fines ranging from 500 to 3,000 euros.

Belgium encourages energy savings with VAT cuts

In turn, Belgium offers financial incentives to its fellow citizens and companies that save energy. Since March, they have reduced VAT rates (from 21% to 6%) for building materials and services such as demolition and renovation of buildings, as well as the installation of solar panels, heat pumps and hot water boilers that run on solar energy. . The Belgian government’s slogan is: “by isolating your homes, you are isolating Putin.”

Doel nuclear power plant in Belgium, February 2016

The share of gas imported from the Russian Federation represents only 6% of this type of fuel consumed in Belgium, and a huge terminal for receiving LNG has been built in the port of Zeebrugge. Despite this, the Belgian authorities decided not to close the two Tihange 3 and Doel 4 nuclear reactors in 2025, but to keep them in operation for another ten years.

Netherlands and Austria return to coal

The Netherlands is also moving away from principles that, like Germany, seemed unshakable just a few months ago: coal-fired power plants, whose capacity has been reduced by a third due to the climate crisis, are now expected to operate at full capacity by 2024.

Domestic gas production in the Netherlands has been steadily falling in recent years.

And in Austria, a closed Verbund plant will be converted to coal again, while gas plants can be converted to liquid fuel.

And what about Southeast Europe? Croatia is increasing its LNG capacity, Bulgaria is looking for oil and gas in the Black Sea, and the Romanian parliament has passed a government-sponsored bill that makes it easier and more profitable to extract gas offshore the Black Sea.

Strange advice from a British energy company

EU member states seem to have realized the gravity of the situation. You can’t say quite the same about the British energy company SSE, which sent out an email to its customers listing “easy and cost-effective ways to keep warm in winter” and not break the heat.

Many Brits will have to choose this winter – spend money on heating or food

Among them – some jumping on the spot, rich oatmeal, hugs with pets or family, competitions with children in the rotation of the hula hoop (large diameter sports hoop. – Red.) and eating ginger.

The council has caused an uproar in a country where, according to charities, up to 6 million families are likely to have to make the painful choice of spending what little money they have on winter food or gas and electricity. An apology from the SSE followed immediately, the letter was deemed “shameful” – including the recommendation contained in it to keep warm while restoring order and cleaning the room.