Germany S Union Chief Warns That A Russian Gas Cut Could Upend Major Industries

The head of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) warned on Sunday that major industries in the country are at risk of collapse if Russian gas is cut off. “Due to gas bottlenecks, entire industries are at risk of permanently collapsing: aluminum, glass, the chemical industry,” Yasmin Fahimi told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper in an interview. “Such a collapse would have huge consequences for the entire economy and jobs in Germany.” FILE: Yasmin Fahimi, head of the German Confederation of Labor (DGB), speaks to the media before the first meeting of the “Transformation Alliance” at the Chancellery on June 14, 2022 in Berlin, Germany. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images/Getty Images) Fahimi’s dire warning came a day before an expected round of crisis talks between Fahimi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February has sparked an energy crisis on the continent, which is heavily dependent on Russian imports. Fahimi called for a cap on energy prices for households. He said households and companies would be further burdened by the rising cost of CO2 emissions, creating a crisis that could lead to social and labor unrest. BIDEN ADMINISTRATION UNVEILS OIL AND GAS DRILLING PLANS, REVEALING TRUMP ERA CONTEXT Meanwhile, the head of Germany’s energy regulator urged residents on Saturday to save energy and prepare for winter, when usage rises, amid fears that Russia may cut off gas supplies.
The President of the Federal Network Agency Klaus Müller urged house and apartment owners to check and adjust their gas boilers and radiators to maximize their efficiency. “Maintenance can reduce gas consumption by 10% to 15%,” he told Funke Mediengruppe, a German newspaper and magazine publisher. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX BUSINESS APP Mueller said residents and property owners should use the 12 weeks before the cold weather hits to prepare. He said families should start talking now about “whether every room should be set to its usual temperature in winter – or whether some rooms can be a bit colder”. The Associated Press contributed to this report.