While rising energy prices after the sanctions against Russia caused panic in Europe, the strike launched by energy workers in Norway deepened the crisis. Gas prices increased by about 7 percent after the workers’ decision to strike. Germany’s state of Saxony, which was hit the hardest by the crisis, imposed restrictions on hot water.
In Europe, which imposed sanctions on Moscow after Russia’s war against Ukraine and turned away from Russian oil, the gas crisis, which was expected to erupt in winter, broke out much earlier.
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The crisis, which started with the rise in energy prices worldwide following the sanctions imposed on Russia, deepened with a strike in Norway, the continent’s largest fuel producer.
ENERGY WORKERS ANNOUNCE STRIKE, GAS PRICES RISE 7 PERCENT
Unions representing the majority of energy workers in Norway have decided to go on strike due to the failure to reach an agreement on wages. If no solution is found in the strike that started today in three offshore fields, work will be stopped in three more fields tomorrow.
After the announcement that energy sector workers will go on strike, gas prices in Europe increased by about 7 percent to 157 euros.
MEETS 25 PERCENT OF UK AND EUROPE’S GAS DEMAND
The Norwegian Oil and Gas Association said it expects the strike that started today to reduce Norway’s gas production by around 13 percent (a loss of 130,000 barrels). The impact of this reduction will be felt across Europe, as Norway already meets 25 percent of the European Union and the UK’s gas demand.
The Norwegian government said it is closely monitoring the strike and may call it off if special circumstances arise.
GAZPROM REDUCED GAS FLOW BY 60 PERCENT COMPARED TO LAST MONTH
The strike in Norway comes at a time when Russian energy giant Gazprom has cut gas flows to Germany via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline by 60 percent compared to last month. Gazprom says the disruptions were caused by a missing part sent to Canada for repair, but it is well known that the situation is related to the ongoing war and the sanctions imposed on Russia.
ALARM IN GERMANY! EMERGENCY PLAN ACTIVATED
Berlin is worried that the situation could worsen with a strike in Norway after Russia restricted gas flows citing equipment shortages. Last week, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck acknowledged that his country was facing a gas crisis and launched the second phase of a three-stage contingency plan for natural gas supplies.
RESTRICTIONS ON HOT WATER
The first news that frightened people in Germany came from the state of Saxony. In an apartment building with 600 apartments in the state, officials restricted the use of hot water. In the announcement, it was stated that people can now only use hot water at certain hours and it was emphasized that the application will last until September.
Although the restriction on hot water is only in a small area for now, people are afraid that this practice will become widespread. The state of Hamburg has also announced that it may impose a similar restriction if the gas shortage grows.
