BEconomics Minister Robert Habeck has announced another energy security package. These include stricter requirements for filling the gas storage and activation of the lignite reserve, as Habeck said in Berlin on Thursday. It is also about saving measures in public buildings and a mandatory “heating check”.
According to him, the federal government will also take measures to support the largest German gas importer Uniper. According to Habeck, it is correct that Uniper used stocks in the gas storage facilities to stabilize the company financially. This will no longer be necessary: ”We will soon stabilize Uniper differently.”
“Uncertain cantonist”
To secure the energy supply, the Green politician also wants to bring lignite-fired power plants back on line. From October 1st, the lignite reserve will be activated in addition to the hard coal, Habeck announced. In addition, a gas saving regulation is planned. “We need staying power,” said Habeck. “Winter is yet to come.” And this is just the first winter. The second winter of 2023/2024 will still pose challenges for Europe.
The German gas storage facilities should in turn be given higher minimum fill levels. They should be 95 percent full by November 1 and 85 percent by October 1, according to the draft government regulation. So far, 90 or 80 percent were anchored. “Only by changing the filling level specifications can it be achieved, on the one hand, that sufficient gas is injected before winter and, on the other hand, that the withdrawal behavior of some users, which is currently observed to be disadvantageous for the security of supply, is prevented,” the statement said .
According to the draft regulation, an interim target of 75 percent is to be inserted into the law in September. If this is achieved, the status is considered non-critical. But there may be exceptions. The German storage facilities can hold around a quarter of the natural gas required each year. At the beginning of last winter, however, they were comparatively low, which worried the federal government, so that a corresponding law was passed in March.
Finally, Habeck also rejected statements from Russia that the country was the guarantor of Europe’s energy supply. “It’s a distortion of every fact,” Habeck said. Russia uses its power to blackmail Germany and Europe. “And every day proves to be an insecure cantonist in the energy supply in Europe.”
