Germany to launch ‘painful’ gas saving scheme to secure next winter’s supply 

Faced with low gas flows from Russia, the German government will burn more coal in summer, pay the industry not to use gas and provide billions of euros in loans to merchants for gas purchasing.

“The situation is serious. We are therefore further strengthening precautionary measures and taking additional steps to reduce gas consumption,” said Robert Habeck, German minister for economy and climate action, in a written statement on Sunday.

“Gas consumption must continue to fall, but more gas must be put into the storage facilities. Otherwise, it will be really tight in winter. We will now take the next steps,” he added.

Habeck is introducing a new set of measures aimed at reducing demand from industry, demand from electricity production and providing gas traders with state loans to allow for additional gas purchasing, Euractiv reported.