German Economy Minister Warns: Germany Now Faces Gas Shortage

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck has stated that Germany is now facing a gas shortage, as the supply of gas through the "Nord Stream" has decreased due to Western sanctions on Moscow. The TASS news agency reported that Germany is dealing with a gas shortage amid reduced supplies from Russia due to technical difficulties on the Nord Stream gas pipeline (a gas pipeline from Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea). The German minister said, "We are facing a gas crisis," and added that such a scenario had been studied by authorities previously, preparing the country since the end of 2021. He urged residents and businesses to reduce their gas consumption, announcing the start of the second phase of the government's emergency plan to address the energy crisis. Natural gas supplies from Russia to European countries via the Nord Stream have declined since mid-June due to technical issues, as Canada refused to return gas turbines to Russia after maintenance, citing the sanctions imposed on Moscow.