Dhe worst case did not happen. After a 10-day stoppage, the gas is once again flowing through the main pipeline, albeit in small quantities. Gazprom has Germany floundering on President Putin’s behalf. This will remain so until we have freed ourselves from our dependence on Russia. The time gained to prepare for the coming winter could only be short, incidentally, the energy supply in the following year will not be a sure-fire success either. It is understandable that Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck does not want to give the feeling that the situation has eased because Nord Stream 1 is filling up again – and is preparing a multitude of new legal interventions in order to be prepared for the worst case scenario.
What is particularly striking about the hodgepodge is that green crisis management is becoming increasingly dirigiste on a small scale and sometimes takes refuge in symbolic gestures. The ban on heating private pools with gas may please the left-wing clientele. However, it contributes little to security of supply. On the other hand, the longer use of the climate-friendly German nuclear power plants would be clearly suitable for this. It is becoming increasingly difficult for the alleged “Realo” Habeck to explain why he is leaving this gap in view of the existential threat to the country’s economic foundations and climate change. Because it is precisely here that the time for legislation is running out. Fuel rods have to be ordered and personnel procured for safe continued operation. The three remaining nuclear power plants cover six percent of the electricity requirement. If they kept running, less gas and less climate-damaging lignite would have to be converted into electricity.
Turning down the heating in public buildings and giving private landlords and companies more leeway for energy-saving temperatures is not wrong. But without the pressure that millions of energy price signals generate on the market, the private potential cannot be fully exploited. Therefore, in addition to nuclear power, Habeck’s plans also lack the clear announcement that the suppliers may now pass on the increase in gas prices.
