• Energy Germany fills the tanks and calls on citizens to save to face the winter without gas from Russia

The European Union (EU) is in an "incredibly precarious" position in the face of the Russian threat of a total cut in gas supply for next winter, according to the

International Energy

Agency (IEA), which has urged the Twenty-seven to promote gas storage by reducing the demand of companies and homes, temporarily increasing the use of coal and oil in electricity generation, in addition to nuclear energy, reports Europa Press.

In this sense, this Thursday Russia should restore the supply of gas to Germany, which is cut off in the Nord Stream gas pipeline due to maintenance works.

However, within the EU this gas cut is understood as the step prior to a definitive cut.

We have seen some progress, particularly in terms of diversifying gas supply, but not enough, especially on the demand side, to prevent Europe from finding itself in an incredibly precarious situation today. IEA, Turkish

Fatih Birol

, for whom Russia's latest moves to further reduce natural gas flows to Europe are a red alert for the EU.

"As we approach the coming winter, we have a clearer idea of ​​what Russia can do next. The next few months will be critical," he warned.

Thus, the director of the IEA has stressed that if Russia maintains a certain level of supply during the summer, it is still feasible to achieve the 90% storage level.

According to a new IEA analysis, the additional gas to be saved in the next three months is in the order of 12 billion cubic meters, enough to fill some 130 LNG tankers.

In this context, the IEA has proposed a total of five measures:

minimizing the consumption of gas to generate electricity

, for example by temporarily turning to

coal

,

oil

and

nuclear

power plants as an alternative ,

greater coordination between energy operators across Europe

to reduce consumption peaks, since that is when gas plants are used the most to produce electricity,

reduce consumption by individuals with standards and controls for air conditioning

, for which administrations have to be exemplary and harmonize

plans of emergency

both at national and European level, including supply cuts and solidarity mechanisms.

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