07/26/2022
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 04:31 Industry concerned about gas cuts – “every kilowatt hour is important” +++
The chemical industry warns of the possible consequences if Russia permanently reduces its gas supplies via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline in the Baltic Sea. “Every kilowatt hour that flows through the pipeline is important for our industry,” said energy expert Jörg Rothermel from the Association of the Chemical Industry to the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland”. “The further reduction in gas deliveries to 20 percent increases the risk that we will lack gas in the winter because we will have great difficulty filling our storage facilities.”
+++ 03:40 USA is now the largest exporter of liquefied natural gas +++
According to its own account, the USA has become the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The US agency Energy Information Administration (EIA) relies on data from the non-governmental organization Cedigaz. According to this, US exports rose by 12 percent in the first half of the year to an average of 11.2 billion cubic feet per day compared to the second half of 2021. In the first five months of this year, about 71 percent of US exports went to the EU and Great Britain.
+++ 03:16 EU countries agree on an emergency plan to save gas +++
According to information from the German Press Agency, representatives of EU countries have agreed on an emergency plan to reduce gas consumption. It is due to be officially confirmed today at a special meeting of energy ministers in Brussels and will reduce the risks that could arise from a complete disruption to Russian gas supplies. Read more about this here.
+++ 02:01 Union calls for crisis summit on energy supply from the Chancellor +++
In view of the threatening situation in the energy sector, the Union quickly calls for a crisis summit in the Federal Chancellery. The energy expert and deputy CDU chairman Andreas Jung told the “Rheinische Post” that “the situation is very serious. To avert an energy emergency, everything must be done.” Chancellor Olaf Scholz must therefore invite to a summit with the prime ministers and the municipal umbrella organizations. “It’s high time for this,” emphasizes Jung.
+++ 01:08 Austria: “On the right track” for gas storage target +++
Austria sees itself on course to achieve its gas storage target by the start of the heating season in winter. “We are on the right track to achieve our storage target,” said Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler to ORF when asked about the achievement of the 80 percent target. The Baltic Sea pipeline Nord Stream 1 is not the central supply route for Austria. Even with the complete decommissioning of Nord Stream 1, natural gas could still be stored because non-Russian gas is increasingly coming to Austria and because Russian gas is supplied via Ukraine.
+++ 00:45 FDP wants to leave nuclear power plants online by 2024 +++
In the debate about longer lifetimes for nuclear power plants, the FDP is in favor of extending the lifetime until spring 2024. “This is the period in which we are threatened with energy shortages. That’s why we have to be prepared for it,” said the energy policy spokesman for the FDP parliamentary group, Michael Kruse, of the “Bild” newspaper. With their demand for an extension of the term beyond December 31, 2022, the Liberals had caused resentment in the traffic light coalition. SPD and especially the Greens are skeptical. Read more about this here.
+++ 00:22 Asselborn: Moscow “cannot be stopped with diplomacy” +++
Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn sees Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s call for the overthrow of the government in Ukraine as evidence of Russia’s unwillingness to negotiate. Russia is currently “unstoppable with diplomacy,” Asselborn told the editorial network Germany. “As much as I wish that this moment would come, unfortunately we are still miles away from a diplomatic solution.”
+++ 23:18 Selenskyj accuses Russia of “open gas warfare” against Europe +++
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accuses Russia of trying to make preparations for the winter as difficult as possible for Europeans. “And this is an open gas war that Russia is waging against a united Europe,” he explains in his nightly televised speech. “And they don’t care what happens to the people, how they will suffer, from hunger from the blockade of the ports or from the winter cold and poverty. Or from the occupation.” These are “just other forms of terror”. Zelenskyj is in favor of tightening sanctions against Russia.
+++ 22:16 Poland against the obligation to save on gas consumption +++
Poland rejects mandatory savings of 15 percent in gas consumption. “We can talk about voluntary mechanisms, we can talk about savings in individual countries,” says Environment and Climate Minister Moskva. But it is difficult to agree to a blanket savings target “without knowing what the coming winter will look like”. According to the PAP agency, the minister emphasizes that the gas storage facilities in Poland are “already full”. Last week, the EU Commission proposed that the member states set themselves a savings target of 15 percent. In the event of a real gas emergency, however, it should be possible to order a reduction in consumption.
According to Prime Minister Petr Fiala, the natural gas storage facilities in the Czech Republic are 80 percent full. This is a record value, he explains on Twitter. Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Czech Republic was almost completely dependent on Russian natural gas. According to earlier information, the EU country has since increased its supplies, among other things, through liquefied natural gas (LNG) deliveries via the Netherlands.
+++ 21:15 Kremlin calls for UN help to relax sanctions +++
With a view to the agreement to end the blockade of Ukrainian grain exports across the Black Sea, Russia is demanding support from the United Nations for easing Western sanctions. “In the present case, the UN must fulfill its part, which concerns the indirect restrictions aimed at Russian deliveries of grain and fertilizers,” said Kremlin spokesman Peskov, according to the Interfax agency. A UN spokesman replies that the United Nations is already fulfilling all the tasks to which it has committed itself.
+++ 20:58 general staff: dozens of places bombed or shelled +++
The General Staff in Kyiv reports that the Russian units have achieved successes at the Wuhlehirsk coal-fired power plant in the Donetsk Oblast. On the other hand, attacks in the direction of the cities of Bakhmut and Siwersk were repelled on the neighboring front section, it is said. Russian attacks in the Kharkiv region also failed. Several dozen places, especially in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions, were shelled by artillery or bombed by the Luftwaffe.
+++ 20:32 Selenskyj changes commander in eastern Ukraine +++
By decree, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi dismissed the commander of the armed forces in eastern Ukraine Hryhori Halahan and installed Viktor Horenko in his place. Major General Halahan had led special operations in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions since August 2020. The conflict there began in 2014. After Russia’s invasion in February, Ukraine has now completely lost control of the Luhansk region. About 50 percent of the neighboring Donetsk region was conquered by Russian troops. Before February 24, just under 30 percent of the areas were controlled by pro-Russian separatists.
+++ 20:03 Habeck accuses Putin of “perfidious play” +++
Economics Minister Habeck accuses Russian President Putin of playing a “perfidious game” because of the announced further throttling of gas supplies. “He’s trying to weaken the great support for Ukraine and drive a wedge in our society. To do this, he’s fueling uncertainty and driving up prices. We’re countering this with unity and concentrated action. We’re taking precautions so that we can get through the winter. ” There are no technical reasons for the cuts in gas supplies. “The turbine is ready for delivery to Russia,” explains the Green politician. Siemens Energy’s export documents are complete, but Russia refuses to issue the import documents. “Russia breaks treaties and blames others.”
You can read earlier developments of the Ukraine war here.