European energy ministers reached an agreement on Friday to return part of the "superprofits" of energy producers to households and businesses faced with the explosion of bills, but many believe that it is necessary to go even further to the approach of winter.

Officials validated emergency and temporary measures presented in mid-September by the European Commission, also aimed at imposing a reduction in electricity consumption during peak hours.

But they are still divided on how to bring down wholesale gas prices, the idea of ​​a cap coming up against German reluctance in particular.

They instructed the Commission to submit solutions to them as soon as possible, before a summit of the leaders of the 27 on October 7 in Prague and a new meeting of energy ministers on October 11-12.

An energy war with Russia

"We have to continue the work. We are in an energy war with Russia, which also strongly affects our industry," said Czech Energy Minister Jozef Sikela, whose country holds the presidency of the Energy Council. European Union (EU).

He insisted on the "urgency" of the new measures, during a press conference after the meeting of ministers in Brussels.

Recent leaks on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea, denounced as acts of "sabotage", have further increased tension in the European bloc, already shaken by soaring prices linked to the war unleashed by Russia in Ukraine.

>> To read also: Leak of the Nord Stream gas pipelines: the theories behind the sabotage

The emergency measures endorsed on Friday, which will apply from December 1, set a binding target for states to reduce their electricity consumption "by 5%" during peak hours until March 31, 2023 The Twenty-Seven are also called upon to reduce their electricity consumption by 10%, an indicative objective.

Revenue cap for electricity generators

Another measure: the ceiling on the income of electricity producers from nuclear and renewables (wind, solar, hydroelectric) who reap exceptional profits by selling their production at a price much higher than their production costs.

This ceiling is set at 180 euros per megawatt hour and the difference between this level and the wholesale market price must be recovered by the States to be redistributed to households and businesses, until June 30, 2023. A "temporary solidarity contribution " also applies to producers and distributors of gas, coal and oil.

The President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, had estimated at some 140 billion euros the revenue that could be donated in this way.

But a majority of Member States – fifteen, including France, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Poland – consider that the "most serious problem" still needs to be tackled: they are calling for a cap on wholesale gas prices on the European market.

These countries want the measure to apply to all gas imports and not just those from Russia.

A maximum price for Russian gas

The Community executive, like Germany, is reluctant to put such a measure in place, fearing that a price limitation will threaten the supply of Europeans, by dissuading "reliable partners" from delivering gas to the EU, at the profit from other destinations.

Estonian Minister Riina Sikkut also spoke out against this idea, saying that "the availability of gas and the security of supply were more important than the price".

The Commission is in favor of a maximum price for Russian gas – transported by pipeline or liquefied natural gas (LNG) – which currently accounts for 9% of European imports.

Russia was historically the EU's biggest gas supplier, bringing more than 40% of the gas to the bloc.

"But some member states see it as a sanction and we don't have a consensus on that," said EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson.

"An intervention is necessary"

To lower prices, Brussels is betting on negotiations with other suppliers of gas transported by pipelines, but believes that for LNG, the ability to negotiate is restricted by international competition.

"We all agree that the market is not functioning normally and that intervention is necessary," acknowledged the commissioner, also mentioning the option of capping the price of gas used for electricity production.

Many EU countries have already put in place support schemes at national level to relieve households and businesses strangled by bills.

With AFP.

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