Germans are buying wood, & wood pellets, in record quantities, to be used for cooking & heating in their winter. There are fears Russia will further reduce their mutually agreed gas exports, as political blackmail.Russia is now only delivering only c. 20% of the agreed & contracted amounts, claiming "technical problems"."Timber industry at full capacity
Nearly half of all homes in Germany are heated with gas. Ever sinceRussia started waging warin Ukraine, however, supplies of the fuel have become unreliable. The price has jumped and supply cuts through the strategically importantNord Stream 1 pipeline remain unsolved.
Only a fraction of German homes uses wood for heating
Customers are telling stove builder Günter Meurer that they don't want to freeze in the winter. Demand for wood-burning stoves has doubled compared to last year and Meurer is struggling to keep up. New customers call and he has to put them off until after winter. The delivery times of some manufacturers already stretch into next summer.
Demand has increased by 30 to 40%, said Alexis Gula, head of Germany's Association of Chimney Sweeps (ZIV). Customers of his business near Stuttgart tell him why they're turning to wood for heating.
"A year or two ago, they wanted to be cozy and have some additional heat," he told DW. "Today, it's the securing energy supplies.
"Theprice of gas could tripleby early 2023, Klaus Müller, president of the Federal Network Agency, told Germany's RND news outlet last week. Against that backdrop, heating with wood is a lot cheaper".https://www.dw.com/en/germany-stockpiling-wood-in-fear-of-gas-shortage/a-62601419It is becoming increasingly likely, IMO that the "temporary" increase in Germany, & other EU countries etc, in using MORE THERMAL coal to provide much more electrical power (to replace power formerly provided by gas-fired power stations) may last for c. 2 years+It may take c. 2 years+ to build sufficient LNG terminals in the EU etc., & related LNG infrastructure, to feed again the once gas-fired power stations.Attitudes to Russia are hardening around the world- there are great fears over the safety of Ukraine's Zaporizhyzia nuclear power plant, controlled by Russia: Russia is stationing & using artillery close to it, along with ammunition storage facilities.Prices for thermal & met coal are likely, IMO, to remain high for c. 2 years
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