“Germany and the rest of Europe are paying the price for decades of dependence on a single supplier.”
(Photo: AP)
davos European gas storage facilities are full, prices are falling – and Germany is putting new liquid gas terminals into operation in record time. Numerous business representatives are relieved that the energy crisis has supposedly been averted. But one does not want to join the general optimism: the economist Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency (IEA). In the Handelsblatt interview, he explains why it is too early to give the all-clear, why liquid gas could become scarce and what all this has to do with China.
Mr. Birol, the feared energy shortage has not happened. Will the mild winter save Europe’s economy?
We will suffer social and economic scars. But for this winter, we’re probably off the hook. I’m worried about next winter.
Why?
For many reasons. In order to fill the storage facilities, we imported 60 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Russia last year. We will have to replace this amount this year.
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