The International Energy Agency has warned Europe must take immediate steps to reduce gas consumption ahead of the winter, urging governments to cap air conditioning use and start auctioning gas to industry or risk rationing during the coldest months.
Fatih Birol, the IEA head, said on Monday that cuts to Russian supplies meant European efforts so far were falling short and urged governments to “make every remaining day count” with efforts to fill gas storage facilities over the next three months.
“Russia’s latest moves to squeeze natural gas flows to Europe even further, combined with other recent supply disruptions, are a red alert for the European Union,” Birol wrote in a report.