In the spring of 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin wanted to use Germany's dependence on Russian gas to his advantage.
Putin's plan: use dependence on Gazprom Germania
According to Handelsblatt, the Kremlin planned to abruptly cut off gas supplies to Germany via Gazprom Germania on April 4, 2022, which could have led to a nationwide blackout and significant economic damage. Among Gazprom's 500 major customers in focus were 250 municipal utilities and 250 large companies, including chemical and steel companies, as well as 700 gas power plants.
The plan was aimed at causing maximum economic damage. However, this plan was foiled by the intervention of two Russian whistleblowers and dedicated officials.
However, the analysis shows that despite this near-catastrophic incident, Germany remains heavily dependent on foreign energy supplies, particularly from China, and that the federal government has not taken decisive steps to reduce this dependence.
Russian whistleblowers as key figures
Fact: Two Russian managers are said to have uncovered the plan and informed German officials about it. This enabled the German government to react in a timely manner and take countermeasures.
Extent of the planned attack
The plan would have had serious impacts, including cold homes, business outages and a dramatic increase in gas prices. The aim was to plunge Germany into chaos without Russian gas, which is deeply embedded in the infrastructure.
Countermeasures by the German government
Fact: A crisis team consisting of members of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and the Federal Chancellery developed a plan to repel the attack. One of the measures was the nationalization of Gazprom Germania. Germany has also coordinated with the British government. Russia only stopped gas deliveries on May 12, 2023.
International coordination and reactions
Fact: The German government coordinated with the British government and took control of Gazprom Germania to secure energy supplies.
Conclusion
Geopolitical tensions and energy supply. The report highlights the importance of energy supply as a geopolitical tool. The role of whistleblowers and the federal government's quick response show how important information exchange and crisis management are in such situations. The nationalization of Gazprom Germania was a crucial step to secure Germany's energy supply and prevent further escalations.
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Source: Handelsblatt
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Notes:
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