German Finance Ministry calls to exclude gas from electricity production mix

This is reported by the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag. 

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner, in an interview with BamS, called for an end to the production of electricity using gas, which may run out in the country due to a reduction in supplies by Russia.

"We must work to avoid an energy crisis in addition to the gas one. Gas must no longer be used to produce electricity, as is still the case",  Lindner said in an interview with BamS.

According to Lindner, the German government has the power to ban the use of gas for electricity generation.

"Economics Minister Robert Habeck has the legal authority to ban the use of gas in power generation, requiring Germany's "safe and environmentally friendly nuclear plants" to continue operating until 2024 if necessary", he said.

However, as BamS writes, Habek replied to these words of the Minister of Finance that a complete ban on the use of gas in the production of electricity will lead to an electricity crisis and blackouts. 

"Some power plants need gas to operate and play a crucial role in maintaining Germany's electricity grid. But efforts are being made to replace the use of gas for power generation where possible", Robert Habeck said.

As BamS writes, Germany is very dependent on Russian gas, and Gazprom has reduced supplies through Nord Stream 1 to 20% of maximum capacity.

"Berlin has accused Russia of using pretexts to cut gas flows in response to sanctions imposed by Western governments over Moscow's war with Ukraine, which is now in its sixth month. The cut in supplies is fueling fears that Germany will run out of gas for the winter, which could have catastrophic consequences for  industry and population", BamS wrote.