Europe, which is heavily dependent on Russia for its natural gas purchases, is preparing for a harsh winter after Putin significantly cut gas supplies to the continent. While financial giants in the UK are planning to open temporary offices outside the city, banks in Denmark are distributing blankets to their employees and Deutsche Bank in Germany will cut off hot water in its offices in Germany. Czechia removed half of the lamps in government offices and replaced the remaining half with LED lamps.
Starting on February 24, the ‘energy crisis’, which deepened when Russia, which was clamped under sanctions after the Ukraine crisis that started on February 24, cut natural gas to Europe, is the number one agenda item in Europe.
European countries, which find the solution to rising prices and energy shortages in energy saving, continue to take extraordinary measures to survive this winter.
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LONDON STARTS PREPARATIONS
In London, one of the financial capitals of the world, it was put on the agenda to implement measures similar to the quarantine period against power cuts that may occur in the winter months.
It is noted that the market regulator (UK Finance) is holding meetings with banks for possible measures to be implemented. According to Bloomberg, among the measures that can be taken is the encouragement of working from home.
THE EXAMPLE OF SOUTH AFRICA IS BEING EXAMINED
Companies are studying the example of South Africa, where blackouts are part of everyday life. Europe is preparing for possible limitations due to its dependence on Russian energy.
In addition to the UK, France will also ask households, businesses and local governments to reduce energy consumption in order to prevent blackouts in the first place.
Germany has nationalized the country’s natural gas giant Uniper SE at a cost of 29 billion dollars to prevent the collapse of the energy sector.
Britain’s biggest banks are reportedly taking part in the meetings of the precautionary plan.
TEMPORARY OFFICE IDEA ON THE TABLE
Financial giants are reportedly considering the idea of setting up temporary offices in cities around London to overcome local power cuts.
Likewise, a company that provides energy strategy services to hundreds of buildings in London’s financial center says that many businesses have approached them for electricity saving advice.
DENMARK DISTRIBUTES BLANKETS TO WORKERS
Among the recommendations for companies are indoor battery units and outdoor solar panels.
The Nordic countries are also preparing for a winter with energy shortages.
It is known that banks in Denmark are distributing blankets to their employees and Deutsche Bank in Germany will cut off hot water in its offices in Germany.
In the case of South Africa, uninterruptible power systems and diesel-fueled generators are being used to ensure that daily power cuts do not disrupt operations.
CZECHIA DISMANTLES LAMPS IN GOVERNMENT OFFICES
Czechia recently announced that half of the lamps in government offices have been dismantled and the remaining old lamps have been replaced with LED lamps that consume less.
The government stated that LED lighting is preferred not only in government offices but also in street lighting and that the lighting of tourist attractions will be turned off after a certain time at night.
CHURCHES MAY CLOSE
Sweden has begun closing some churches in an effort to reduce energy costs, Sputnik International reports.
Markus Dahlberg, head of the Church of Sweden’s cultural heritage department, told Dagens Nyheter newspaper that such measures are being discussed in many parts of Sweden, especially in the south, where energy prices are the highest.
Andreas Månsson of the diocese of Lund said that 150 of the diocese’s 540 churches could be completely or partially closed this winter to save energy.
THIS WINTER WILL BE TOUGH
Although European countries are taking strict austerity measures one after the other, this winter is expected to be tough for the continent.
Even though countries are filling their gas tanks after Putin’s decision to cut gas supplies, these tanks are at a level that can sustain most countries for 3 months at most.
