Shock in Germany... and the Reason is Gas Bills

The head of the German Network Agency, Klaus Müller, announced that Germans should prepare for and expect a significant increase in gas fees, indicating that the situation regarding gas supplies in Germany remains tense. According to Müller in an interview with the Funke media group, Russia recently reduced supplies through Nord Stream by 60%, and in his view, technical problems were not the reason at all. Müller noted that maintenance for the pipeline is conducted for ten days each summer, but under the current circumstances, this situation is causing confusion for thousands of industrial enterprises. He added, "We wonder whether this technical maintenance could turn into a political repair for much longer." Müller also predicts an increase in gas prices for consumers, stating that due to the crisis with Nord Stream, costs could triple. He continued, "In light of the crisis, many residents of the country will not be able to cope even with a slight increase in energy resource prices, and as a result, they will be shocked when they receive notifications from suppliers." Müller concluded that authorities must take steps to ease the situation for citizens. The company "Nord Stream," responsible for operating the "Nord Stream" pipeline, announced on Friday a temporary halt in gas flow from Russia to Europe for maintenance work. The "Nord Stream" (a gas pipeline from Russia to Germany across the Baltic Sea) serves as the main route for Russian gas supplies to Germany, and previously, concerns had been raised that the closure of the pipeline could exacerbate the gas crisis in Europe.