London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Oct 26, 2025

Germans urged to use less energy after Russia cuts gas supply and prices surge

Germans urged to use less energy after Russia cuts gas supply and prices surge

Germany has accused Russia of trying to push up gas prices by cutting supplies.

Germans have been urged to save energy after Russia's Gazprom announced significant cuts in natural gas supplies via a key pipeline.

Gazprom, which is state-owned, announced a 40% reduction in gas flows to Germany through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline on Tuesday.

On Wednesday the cut was increased to 60%.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said reductions in supply were not premeditated and related to maintenance issues.

Gazprom said it had been unable to secure the return of equipment sent to Canada for repairs due to sanctions the country imposed over the war in Ukraine.

Russia's ambassador to the EU told state news agency RIA Novosti more delays could lead to flows via the pipeline being completely suspended.

Gazprom chief executive Alexei Miller said he could see no solution to the equipment problem affecting the Portovaya compressor station, which is part of the pipeline.

Germany said maintenance should not have been a problem until the autumn, calling Russia's excuse "unfounded".

Putin 'is doing what was feared'


It accused Russia of trying to push up gas prices and create uncertainty.

Dutch wholesale gas prices, the European benchmark, surged about 30% on Thursday afternoon in response to the news.

Russian President Vladimir Putin "is doing what was to be feared from the beginning: he is reducing the volume of gas, not in one go but step by step", German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck said.

He pointed to earlier Russian decisions to cut supplies to Bulgaria, Denmark and others.

Mr Habeck, who had already launched a campaign for people to save energy last week, drove home the message after Gazprom's announcements.

"Gas is coming to Europe - we have no supply problem, but the volumes of gas must be acquired on the market and it will get more expensive," he said.

He added the government has implemented a law requiring gas storage to be filled and is prepared.

He applauded Germans for their willingness to save energy.

"Now is the time to do so," he said. "Every kilowatt hour helps in this situation. It is a situation that is serious, but not a situation that endangers supply security in Germany."

Germany is not the only one facing falling Russian supplies.

Austria's OMV said Gazprom notified it of reduced deliveries, while France's Engie said flows were down but clients were not affected.

Italy's Eni said it would receive only 65% of the volumes it had requested from the company due to the issues at Portovaya.

The Italian government said it has drawn up contingency plans in case gas supply cuts continue in the days ahead.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
United States and China Begin Constructive Trade Negotiations Ahead of Trump–Xi Summit
U.S. Treasury Sanctions Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro over Drug-Trafficking Allegations
Miss USA Crowns Nebraska’s Audrey Eckert Amid Leadership Overhaul
‘I Am Not Done’: Kamala Harris Signals Possible 2028 White House Run
NBA Faces Integrity Crisis After Mass Arrests in Gambling Scandal
Swift Heist at the Louvre Sees Eight French Crown Jewels Stolen in Under Seven Minutes
U.S. Halts Trade Talks with Canada After Ontario Ad Using Reagan Voice Triggers Diplomatic Fallout
Microsoft AI CEO: ‘We’re making an AI that you can trust your kids to use’ — but can Microsoft rebuild its own trust before fixing the industry’s?
China and Russia Deploy Seductive Espionage Networks to Infiltrate U.S. Tech Sector
Apple’s ‘iPhone Air’ Collapses After One Month — Another Major Misstep for the Tech Giant
Graham Potter Begins New Chapter as Sweden Head Coach on Short-Term Deal
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa Alleges Poison Plot via Chocolate and Jam
Lakestar to Halt External Fundraising as Investor in Revolut and Spotify
U.S. Innovation Ranking Under Scrutiny as China Leads Output Outputs but Ranks 10th
Three Men Arrested in London on Suspicion of Spying for Russia
Porsche Reverses EV Strategy as New CEO Bets on Petrol and Hybrids
Singapore’s Prime Minister Warns of ‘Messy’ Transition to Post-American Global Order
Andreessen Horowitz Sets Sights on Ten-Billion-Dollar Fund for Tech Surge
US Administration Under President Donald Trump Reportedly Lifts Ban on Ukraine’s Use of Storm Shadow Missiles Against Russia
‘Frightening’ First Night in Prison for Sarkozy: Inmates Riot and Shout ‘Little Nicolas’
White House Announces No Imminent Summit Between Trump and Putin
US and Qatar Warn EU of Trade and Energy Risks from Tough Climate Regulation
Apple Challenges EU Digital Markets Act Crackdown in Landmark Court Battle
Nicolas Sarkozy begins five-year prison term at La Santé in Paris
Japan stocks surge to record as Sanae Takaichi becomes Prime Minister
This Is How the 'Heist of the Century' Was Carried Out at the Louvre in Seven Minutes: France Humiliated as Crown with 2,000 Diamonds Vanishes
China Warns UK of ‘Consequences’ After Delay to London Embassy Approval
France’s Wealthy Shift Billions to Luxembourg and Switzerland Amid Tax and Political Turmoil
"Sniper Position": Observation Post Targeting 'Air Force One' Found Before Trump’s Arrival in Florida
Shouting Match at the White House: 'Trump Cursed, Threw Maps, and Told Zelensky – "Putin Will Destroy You"'
Windows’ Own ‘Siri’ Has Arrived: You Can Now Talk to Your Computer
Thailand and Singapore Investigate Cambodian-Based Prince Group as U.S. and U.K. Sanctions Unfold
‘No Kings’ Protests Inflate Numbers — But History Shows Nations Collapse Without Strong Executive Power
Chinese Tech Giants Halt Stablecoin Launches After Beijing’s Regulatory Intervention
Manhattan Jury Holds BNP Paribas Liable for Enabling Sudanese Government Abuses
Trump Orders Immediate Release of Former Congressman George Santos After Commuting Prison Sentence
S&P Downgrades France’s Credit Rating, Citing Soaring Debt and Political Instability
Ofcom Rules BBC’s Gaza Documentary ‘Materially Misleading’ Over Narrator’s Hamas Ties
Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed as Pneumonia, Family Confirms
Former Lostprophets Frontman Ian Watkins Stabbed to Death in British Prison
"The Tsunami Is Coming, and It’s Massive": The World’s Richest Man Unveils a New AI Vision
Outsider, Heroine, Trailblazer: Diane Keaton Was Always a Little Strange — and Forever One of a Kind
Dramatic Development in the Death of 'Mango' Founder: Billionaire's Son Suspected of Murder
Two Years of Darkness: The Harrowing Testimonies of Israeli Hostages Emerging From Gaza Captivity
EU Moves to Use Frozen Russian Assets to Buy U.S. Weapons for Ukraine
Europe Emerges as the Biggest Casualty in U.S.-China Rare Earth Rivalry
HSBC Confronts Strategic Crossroads as NAB Seeks Only Retail Arm in Australia Exit
U.S. Chamber Sues Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Shenzhen Expo Spotlights China’s Quantum Step in Semiconductor Self-Reliance
China Accelerates to the Forefront in Global Nuclear Fusion Race
×