Germany needs a bailout

Germany's main transport route for industries and power plants is on the verge of closure due to the weather. Water level is at 48 cm's 9 cm's short of being impassible. Prices for barge transportation is also up 450% since June

Not just Germany. Having had to close 5 of Europe's largest coal mines Poland is suffering from a severe lack of coal. The EU's full ban on Russian coal comes into effect on the 24th of August. Looking likely Turkey is going to become a big exporter of thermal Coal this winter.

Good one this 🤣

For 10 years Spain have been asking to build a pipeline to Europe but it was constantly blocked by France & Germany as they both wanted to sell energy themselves to other countries. Now Scholtz is saying one would vastly improve Europe’s energy security, it would take years to build one.

Well things are not looking good for Germans at the moment. Klaus Mueller, the head of domestic intelligence service in the German state of Thuringia - warned that 'legitimate' protests over the energy crisis could be 'hijacked by extremists' (and definitely not just enraged average citizens).

Kramer said that officials were bracing for protests over "gas shortages, energy problems, supply difficulties, possible recession, unemployment, but also the growing poverty right up to the middle class," adding that "extremists" which include "lateral thinkers" who rallied against pandemic lockdowns, and 'right-wing activists' who have been stirring the post over social media, could be at the heart of them.

"We're likely to be confronted with mass protests and riots," he continued. "We’re dealing with a highly emotionalized, aggressive, future-pessimistic mood in society, whose trust in the state, its institutions and political actors is fraught with massive doubts."

"This highly emotional and explosive mood could easily escalate," the security chief continued, adding that the Covid-19 clashes would "probably feel more like a children's birthday party" by comparison.

So people protesting against having to choose between freezing or feeding themselves are now going to be regarded as extremists? Nothing like getting in your excuses early, it sounds a lot like that muppet who compared Water Charge Protestors here to the Taliban.

Anyway, it's not looking good, when Germany catches a cold watch what happens to the rest of us.

Lack of options ?

Basically the US , UK . Baltics,Poland and the rest were going down that road and Germany is trying not to stick out like a sore thumb .. I still reckon they're hoping for the war to end and get back to buying Russian gas ... They'll probably build a coue of LNG plants and keep their considerable gas storage full ( er ) going forward though ...

The only surprise there is how long it stayed open...