Earlier, Germany declared triggered the 1st phase of emergency gas plans – known as an «early warning» – amid escalating concerns over supply shortages.
Its decision not to follow in Germany’s footsteps has staved off the possibility of a regional or bloc-wide crisis plan within the EU.
This only occurs when 2 member states declare an emergency based on the same grounds.
The Kremlin’s demand for gas payments to be made in roubles has sent energy firms scrambling to assess the ramifications, with the EU increasingly concerned Russia could cut off supplies.
The Netherlands imports nearly 20 % of its natural gas from Russia and has been seeking alternative sources in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.
Tim van Dijk, the economic affairs ministry spokesperson, told Reuters:
- In view of the German decision we reviewed our gas security plan
- We are not going to initiate the plan because we will only take that step when there is a real physical shortage or there is an acute threat that it will happen
Despite strict sanctions imposed on Moscow by the EU, Russian gas is still flowing into the continent, accounting for roughly 40 % of its total supplies.
