Suche
Mein Konto
Gas supply in Siegen: High prices and new challenges!
Current developments on gas supply in Siegen-Wittgenstein: prices, storage levels and security of supply in the context of geopolitical crises.
Gas supply in Siegen: High prices and new challenges!
In recent years, gas supply in Germany has experienced some turbulent times and dependence on Russian natural gas has become both a key and sensitive point. Currently, almost half of the households in Germany still heat with gas, although the issue is becoming increasingly explosive in both the political and economic spheres. According to the Siegen newspaper We are currently experiencing a more stable situation, but it is not without challenges.
After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Germany lost its main natural gas supplier. In May 2022, gas storage levels were still at 40 percent, which many found worrying for the coming winter. However, the filling levels are currently in the middle range at just under 54 percent, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs has reduced the target for the fall from 90 to 70 percent, which signals a certain level of relaxation. Thomas Mehrer, managing director of the Siegen utility company, does not see these figures as an alarming gas shortage, but rather as a calculated approach by the storage operators.
Early warning level and market strategies
The federal government announced the “gas emergency plan” in June 2022 and activated the “alert level” - but we have now reached the early warning level The Federal Agency for Civic Education reported. Gas suppliers and operators are constantly assessing the situation, while a gas crisis team meets daily to keep the situation under control. The market, which Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck is setting in motion, also relies on flexible procurement and use of gas storage to cushion any bottlenecks.
A look at costs: Consumer prices for gas continue to rise, with imported natural gas three and a half times more expensive in February 2022 than a year earlier. The dependence on Russian gas, which was already at 55 percent, has now fallen to around 40 percent, which is a positive development. The complete exit from dependency should be achieved by summer 2024.
Future outlook and diversification
The infrastructure will also be converted to meet future needs. With the construction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, gas supplies are being diversified in order to be less dependent on Russia. The ZDF emphasizes that the gas storage facilities in Germany are well filled and gas consumption is not in the critical range. The latest figures show that Germany has always achieved its level targets in recent winters. Imports also play an important role, which now come from Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium, while Russia's contributions have declined dramatically.
Finally, Thomas Mehrer gives gas heating owners some good advice: stay calm! There is no need to rush to expand gas heaters or be prepared for a potential supply bottleneck. Gas prices are currently showing stability and a price reduction may follow, which will be passed on to customers.