Germany’s economy minister says the country will limit the use of natural gas for electricity production amid concerns about possible shortages caused by a cut in supplies from Russia.
The move comes after Russia sharply reduced flows of natural gas in its pipelines to western Europe, driving up energy prices.
Robert Habeck says to reduce gas consumption, less gas must be used to generate electricity. Coal-fired power plants will have to be used more instead.
Russian state gas giant Gazprom says the supply reductions via the Nord Stream pipeline are the result of repair work, but European Union officials believe Moscow is punishing allies of Ukraine, where Russian forces launched an invasion in February