The energy crisis

Russia is waging an economic war on Europe. Moscow has made drastic cuts to European gas supplies. They have fallen by 80%. Palki Sharma tells you how Russian cuts could push Europe into a recession.

The German city of Hanover has turned off the heating and switched to cold showers in all public buildings because of the Russian gas crisis.

It's the first big city to turn off the hot water after Russia dramatically reduced Germany's gas supply.

Germans have been told to expect sweeping gas reduction measures and extra charges on their energy bills.

And the EU has agreed to lower demand for Russian gas this winter by 15%.

In a bid to save energy, Germany's northern city of Hanover has decided hot water will no longer be available for hand washing in public buildings, or in showers at swimming pools, sports halls and gyms.

Public fountains are also being switched off to save energy, and there will be no night-time lights on major buildings such as the town hall and museums.

www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62335911

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has lambasted an EU plan to reduce gas consumption by 15%. Unless the bloc pushes for peace in Ukraine, he warned that Europe will face an energy crisis, a recession, and political turmoil.

Speaking following a meeting with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer in Vienna on Thursday, Orban said that Hungary determines its own energy policy, and any attempt by Brussels to interfere with this “will not find favor with the Hungarians.”

Earlier this week, in anticipation of a cutoff in supply from Russia the EU’s member states agreed on a range of measures to cut their gas consumption by 15% over the winter. The voluntary measures – including a switch to alternative fuels and rationing for household consumers – could become mandatory should the EU declare a state of emergency.

Hungary was the only one of the EU’s 27 members to oppose the plan. Declaring it “simply impossible” to go without Russian energy, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto traveled to Moscow last Thursday to negotiate the purchase of an extra 700 million cubic meters of Russian gas.

EU ban on Russian gas ‘impossible’ – Austria
Read more EU ban on Russian gas ‘impossible’ – Austria
“Our people don’t like that kind of thing,” Orban said on Thursday, referring to the EU plan. "If Brussels has a say in what to do with our own energy, regardless of Brussels' good intentions or bad intentions, it will not find favor with the Hungarians.”

Orban, who has heavily criticized the EU’s sanctions on Russia, said that he would attempt to “convince Brussels to create a strategy that is good for the Ukrainians, the EU, and EU households.”

The fact that Brussels is already implementing energy rationing suggests that Europe is moving toward a “wartime economy,” Orban said, adding that unless peace is reached in Ukraine, "we will not be able to solve any problems, there will be no energy, and the entire European Union will be pushed into an economic situation of war.”

The Hungarian premier noted that an energy crisis would also lead to a recession and political instability across Europe.

www.rt.com/news/559785-orban-eu-gas-war-economy

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has lambasted an EU plan to reduce gas consumption by 15%. Unless the bloc pushes for peace in Ukraine, he warned that Europe will face an energy crisis, a recession, and political turmoil.

Speaking following a meeting with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer in Vienna on Thursday, Orban said that Hungary determines its own energy policy, and any attempt by Brussels to interfere with this “will not find favor with the Hungarians.”

Earlier this week, in anticipation of a cutoff in supply from Russia the EU’s member states agreed on a range of measures to cut their gas consumption by 15% over the winter. The voluntary measures – including a switch to alternative fuels and rationing for household consumers – could become mandatory should the EU declare a state of emergency.

Hungary was the only one of the EU’s 27 members to oppose the plan. Declaring it “simply impossible” to go without Russian energy, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto traveled to Moscow last Thursday to negotiate the purchase of an extra 700 million cubic meters of Russian gas.

EU ban on Russian gas ‘impossible’ – Austria
Read more EU ban on Russian gas ‘impossible’ – Austria
“Our people don’t like that kind of thing,” Orban said on Thursday, referring to the EU plan. "If Brussels has a say in what to do with our own energy, regardless of Brussels' good intentions or bad intentions, it will not find favor with the Hungarians.”

Orban, who has heavily criticized the EU’s sanctions on Russia, said that he would attempt to “convince Brussels to create a strategy that is good for the Ukrainians, the EU, and EU households.”

The fact that Brussels is already implementing energy rationing suggests that Europe is moving toward a “wartime economy,” Orban said, adding that unless peace is reached in Ukraine, "we will not be able to solve any problems, there will be no energy, and the entire European Union will be pushed into an economic situation of war.”

The Hungarian premier noted that an energy crisis would also lead to a recession and political instability across Europe.

www.rt.com/news/559785-orban-eu-gas-war-economy

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has called on workers in the public and private sector to stop wearing ties, as an energy saving measure in the heat.

Mr Sanchez said his government will adopt "urgent" energy-saving measures on Monday as European countries strive to become less dependent on Russian gas in the wake of the war in Ukraine.

On Friday, temperatures reached 36C (96.8 F) in Madrid and 39C in Seville.

Over the past few weeks Europe has experienced record-high temperatures.

At a news conference in Madrid, Mr Sanchez pointed out that he wasn't wearing a tie - and said he wanted his ministers, public officials, and workers in the private sector to do the same.

"This means that we can all save energy," he added.

The prime minister said the move will ensure people stay cooler and therefore lower energy costs, because air conditioners will be used less often.

www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62350019

Russia had to reduce its gas flow to Europe through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline due to turbine malfunctions, Gazprom Deputy Chief Executive Vitaly Markelov said on Friday. The issues are due to German company Siemens – which produces the turbines – failing to fulfill its commitments, he told Russia-24 TV.

Siemens has so far eliminated only one-fourth of the total number of discovered malfunctions affecting its turbines, Markelov said. On Wednesday, the Nord Stream 1 operator Gascade reported that gas flow through the pipeline had been reduced to one-fifth of its maximum capacity. A day before that, Gazprom warned that it would have to stop the operation of its second Siemens turbine for an overhaul.

After the switch-off, gas flow through Nord Stream 1 was not expected to exceed 33 million cubic meters per day. The move came as the energy giant was still waiting for another turbine for the pipeline that was due to arrive from Germany after undergoing maintenance in Canada.

www.rt.com/russia/559871-gazprom-nord-stream-siemens-gas