The federal government of Switzerland has warned that it may ration energy in the event of natural gas shortages.
Switzerland gets most of its gas through trading hubs in neighboring countries in the European Union, which means that disruptions affecting the rest of the continent also make their way to landlocked Switzerland, even though the country has a relatively low demand for gas compared to its neighbors. (Related: More ‘green’ insanity: Swiss firms told to brace for wave of power grid blackouts as the government tells citizens to cut back on electricity.)
Natural gas represents around 15 percent of total energy consumption in Switzerland. Around 42 percent of the gas is used to heat households, and the rest is used by different industries, including manufacturing, services, and transport.
But despite this low demand, Energy Minister Simonetta Sommaruga emphasized that Switzerland is very reliant on imported oil and gas. “That is why no one can guarantee that there will always be enough gas for everyone,” said Sommaruga.
Matters were made worse by Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine. Forty-seven percent of Swiss gas imports come directly or indirectly from Russia.
“We are not an island, so the war in Ukraine and the global energy crisis also affect Switzerland. In this context, there is no certainty about what awaits us,” said Sommaruga during a press conference. She later admitted that the energy crisis could hit them hard.
“That’s why we are concerned about reserves and preparing for emergencies,” she added
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