Energy crisis in Europe worsens with reduction in Russian gas supply
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of “economic terrorism” this Monday (29.Aug.2022). The information is from Reuters.
The statement was made at a time when Europe’s energy crisis is intensifying.
“Russia is using economic terror“, Zelensky said at a conference in Stavanger, Norway. “It is exerting pressure with the price crisis, with poverty, to weaken Europe“.
Germany’s benchmark energy prices for 2023 exceeded €1,000 per megawatt-hour for the first time on Monday.
The Czech Republic, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, has convened an emergency meeting of energy ministers for 9 September. The expectation is that a ceiling will be proposed for the price of gas used in the production of electricity.
“What is happening is really a problem beyond Europe. It has an impact on all countries, in some less and in others more“, said Jozef Sikela, Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Czech Republic, in an interview with journalists.
Meanwhile, Gazprom plans maintenance on the Nord Stream 1 pipeline later this week. Nord Stream 1 turns on Russia and Germany across the Baltic Sea. Currently, the Nord Stream 1 pipeline is operating at 20% of its capacity, due to the war in Ukraine.
The interruption aroused suspicion in some European authorities. The fear is that Russia is reducing its offer to pressure Western nations that oppose the invasion of Ukraine. Moscow denies.
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