The European Commission unveils plan to cut EU gas consumption by 15%

The European Commission has unveiled a new legislative tool and a European Gas Demand Reduction Plan, to cut gas use in Europe by 15% until next spring. Member States should update their national emergency plans by the end of September 2022 to show how they intend to meet the reduction target. The text would also give the European Commission the possibility to declare, after consulting Member States, a ‘Union Alert' on security of supply, imposing a mandatory gas demand reduction on all Member States. The European Union faces the risk of further gas supply cuts from Russia, with almost half of our Member States already affected by reduced deliveries.

The European Gas Demand Reduction Plan focuses on substitution of gas with other fuels, and overall energy savings in all sectors. It aims to safeguard supply to households and essential users like hospitals, but also industries that are decisive for the provision of essential products and services to the economy, and for EU supply chains and competitiveness. In 2021, the European Union consumed 413.6 bcm of natural gas (+4% compared to 2020), including 37% in buildings, 28% in power plants and 27% in industry.

In parallel, Nord Stream has completed all planned maintenance works on its twin gas pipelines in 10 days. Gas transmission resumed at the pre-maintenance level, around 40% of the system's transport capacity. The Nord Stream twin pipeline system, which comprises two 1,224-km offshore pipelines with a combined capacity of 55 bcm/year, runs from Vyborg (Russia) to Lubmin near Greifswald (Germany). The system was built and is operated by Nord Stream, a Switzerland-based company owned by Gazprom (51%), Wintershall Dea (15.5%), E.ON (15.5%), Gasunie (9%) and Engie (9%). The pipeline transported a volume of 59.2 bcm of natural gas to Europe in 2021 (stable compared to 2020).