In an interview with Phoenix on 15.11.2022, Dr Frank Umbach talks about German gas policy, security of supply in winter and the implications of importing liquefied gas. 

Despite numerous efforts to diversify gas imports and reduce gas consumption, Germany could still experience a shortage this winter, at least locally or regionally (despite the fact that it has already filled its gas storage sites to more than 85 percent, four weeks ahead of an October 1 target). In countering Russia’s strategy of gas weaponization, Germany could be less reactive and instead unilaterally declare a “price ultimatum” to the Kremlin. It could use and bundle Europe’s purchasing power against Moscow to reduce Russian gas and oil prices and significantly decrease the Kremlin’s revenues from European gas and oil exports. Though this would temporarily lead to a short gas shortage over the winter, it would also help industry, private households and the German government plan more securely, allowing for more effective gas saving.

The more Russia decouples from the globalized system, the more it will try to evade Western sanctions by relying on illicit, unconventional and opaque trading schemes. Already during previous decades, Moscow falsified and cherry-picked economic, energy and climate-related data – often unchallenged by Western governments. Now these figures will become even less transparent, more dubious or will be classified as state secrets. Still, it is also becoming evident that sanctions alone will not stop President Putin’s aggression.  

The Chancellor's Power Word - Interview with Frank Umbach, Energy Expert

Prof. Dr. Andreas Heinemann-Grüder in conversation with Phoenix on 24.10.22 on reconstruction in Ukraine, the ''new Marshall Plan'' and the 5th German-Ukrainian Economic Forum.