EU Energy Crunch: German City Planners Consider Emergency Warm-Up Spaces for Gas Shortages
(Photo : Pjotr Mahhonin/wikicommons)
The EU energy crunch has forced German city planners to plan emergency warm-up spaces anticipating the need should heating problems arise in the coming winter.

Due to the EU energy crunch threatening sparse gas supplies, German City Planners are preparing ahead by establishing emergency warm-up spaces as a measure to keep people from freezing.

The high cost of natural gas has inflated the cost of keeping warm this winter which is an off-shoot of the self-imposed gas embargo of Germany.

A Cold Winter for Germany After Gas Deliveries Are Cut

The German tabloid Bild claimed on Sunday the country's Cities and Municipalities Association has suggested creating heated public areas for the most vulnerable citizens. According to the publication, some German cities have already implemented such schemes, reported RT.

In the western German city of Ludwigshafen, where they will make use of the Friedrich-Ebert-Halle arena as heated spaces for the public to use, remarked mayor Jutta Steinruck.

The venue is for hosting sports, exhibitions, concert halls, and recently a vaccination center for the pandemic. Now it will be a heated area to save people from freezing to death this winter.

Speaking to the outlet, the mayor stated preparation for a gas shortage for the coming autumn and winter with emergency measures set up before that, noted Mass News.

Just one of many Cities and Municipalities Association acting proactively before a heating crisis affects them.

According to the head of the CMA, Gerd Landsberg, German city planners prepped for the worst situation possible. Establishing emergency warm-up spaces accessible to the public is important if the winters are very cold due to the EU energy crunch, citing News Logic.

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The chance of another gas price increase in the coming winter, but if the energy supply runs short, should Russia cut off gas imports abruptly.

Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, stated earlier this week that Moscow would provide adequate energy supply for Europe and less shock for electricity costs.

Western cities of Neustadt, Frankenthal, and Landau are readying and preparing their heat islands for the coming winter. Plans to lessen lights in public areas and traffic lights at night is another energy-saving strategy.

The city of Dusseldorf plans to lessen heat for autumn and winter to save energy, Bild reported. The use of Less air conditioning in summer is encouraged as well.

Gas Flow Compromised

A month ago, Gazprom lessened flow coming through the Nord Stream pipeline by about 40% less, and reasons are risks to operating the line unless the Canadian government returned a pipeline turbine unit for upkeep.

Last Saturday, Ottawa confirmed that the turbine would be returned to the German pipeline operator. Moscow said the turbine is needed to increase the gas flow, but on July 11, Gazprom will shut down the Nord Stream for ten days as scheduled maintenance.

While undergoing this activity, there will be no deliveries for a while until maintenance work is finished.

These events come after the European bloc wants to lessen its dependence on Russian gas and oil, as the Kyiv government does not want to resolve the conflict with Russia. As prices soar, the EU energy crunch forces German city planners to put emergency warm-up spaces for those unable to keep up with their heating bills.

Related Article: Berlin, Moscow Tussle Over the 40% Reduced Supply of Natural Gas to Germany via the Nord Stream Pipeline