Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) EU member states are preparing for a return to coal in the wake of the war in Ukraine and uncertain supply of natural gas.
Germany, the fourth largest consumer of coal, recently announced plans to step up coal consumption to address the energy crunch if needed, according to Reuters reporting on Monday.
Robert Habeck, Germany’s Green party Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Action, pointed out that the move is painful, but stressed the importance of being prepared.
Besides a possible return to coal, Habeck announced plans to introduce incentives for companies to consume less natural gas. He pointed out that regulations to allow this will be sent to the upper house of the parliament in early July.
German Uniper and Italian Eni were among the energy companies that noted a decline of natural gas flow from Russia earlier this week. Austrian OMV warned on Monday that flow to Austria was on track to be halved for the second consecutive day.
Preparations for coal use
On Sunday, the Austrian government reached an agreement with Verbund, the largest electricity provider in the country, to convert a gas-fired power plant to coal in an energy emergency.
German RWE announced on Monday that it could extend operation of coal-fired power plants if needed.
Also on Monday, the Dutch government announced plans to remove the limit for coal-fired power plants in order to consume less natural gas.
The Italian technical committee for natural gas, which is expected to hold a meeting later today, previously announced the possibility of declaring a state of alert if flow of Russian gas continues to decline.
The move would activate measures aimed at lowering consumption that include rationing, increased production in coal-fired power plants and negotiating more imports from current suppliers.
Commenting on low flow through the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline, Russian energy company Gazprom stressed that it has the gas, but is waiting for German Siemens to return the equipment it is servicing in Canada.
The Kremlin reiterated on Monday that the EU did this to itself by imposing an embargo on Russian fossil fuels in response to the war in Ukraine.
