The Russian state-owned company Gazprom operates two gas storage facilities in Germany, including the largest in Germany in Rehden, Lower Saxony. An absurdity, finds the energy policy spokesman for the FDP parliamentary group.
From the FDP comes a push that the Russian state-owned company Gazprom should sell its gas storage facilities in Germany.
“It cannot be that Russia is the largest gas supplier and at the same time has large storage facilities in Germany, a separation must be made here urgently,” said Michael Kruse, energy policy spokesman for the FDP parliamentary group, the German Press Agency.
He welcomes the fact that the EU Commission has clearly shown that the gas storage facilities must be protected immediately from Russian influence. It must be ruled out that Russia could abuse its market power. There is an urgent need for action, says Kruse.
The Russian state-owned company Gazprom operates two storage facilities in Germany via a subsidiary, including the largest in Germany in Rehden, Lower Saxony.
The storage levels were historically low this winter, according to a paper by the Ministry of Economic Affairs. This applies in particular to Gazprom’s storage facilities. Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) plans to set up a national gas reserve – this should ensure that the gas storage tanks are always sufficiently filled.
Kruse said that Germany must quickly make a legal regulation to secure the gas storage facilities. “Our citizens and companies in Germany must be able to rely on the fact that their gas supply is in safe hands. A functioning gas storage market is essential for this.” In the winter months, this includes, above all, that the gas storage facilities are operated reliably and that the gas they contain is also available to the market. “After the winter that is now ending and Putin’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, it is crystal clear that we cannot rely on Russia and its companies.”
According to Kruse, the EU also wants to declare storage systems critical infrastructure. This also means that owners from third countries should not endanger the security of supply.
Source: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
