Berlin has called the move politically motivated, in view of Europe’s sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Russian gas giant Gazprom has slashed gas flows to Germany via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to 20% of capacity, citing technical issues. On Wednesday, Germany’s Cabinet approved legislation to prioritize energy transport on part of the country’s rail networks. It cited the low Rhine water levels which have reduced the volume of coal that can be transported by river barges.Ī significant improvement is not expected, said the paper, and an overburdened rail system offers little relief. “Additional storage sites which have been and are being procured in southern Germany will probably not be filled by winter,” said the paper, referring to the southwestern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, home to power plant operator EnBW. “Due to very reduced domestic shipping, accumulated coal stocks could quickly fall,” a document entitled “Energy Supply Assessment,” drawn up by the Economy Ministry and seen by Reuters, said. However, weeks of critically low water levels on the Rhine river have disrupted logistics and added to Germany’s energy headache as industry temporarily switches to more coal and oil due to a steep fall in Russian energy imports.

BERLIN – Germany’s government is concerned about possible problems with the coal supply for power plants in the autumn and winter due to low water levels on the river Rhine and the oil supply in eastern parts of the country, a document seen by Reuters said.Įurope’s biggest economy is trying to cut its dependence on Russian energy.

Supply inshort run