German minister: Union's final energy plan a 'disaster'

 

German Agriculture Minister Cem Ozdemir says the current coalition inherited a "catastrophic" energy policy from Angela Merkel`s government. Berlin is worried that Russian gas supplies may be cut this winter.  German Food and Agriculture Minister Cem Ozdemir on Sunday said the energy policy of former Chancellor Angela Merkel's government was a "disaster." 

 Referring to the country's heavy reliance on oil and gas supplies from Russia which expanded under Merkel's leadership, he said the current administration had "inherited a catastrophic situation." 

 "I didn't think it was a good idea for us to get 60% of gas from a criminal named Vladimir Putin," Ozdemir said, in reference to the Russian president. 

 Speaking at a trade fair in the southern city of Munich, the Green Party politician called for a public debate about the mistakes made by the previous government, saying it was vital to "come to terms with what has happened in recent years." 

 Dependence on world's criminals' 

 Ozdemir said the current coalition under Chancellor Olaf Scholz must now continue to reduce Germany's "almost criminal dependence on the world's criminals." 

 "I don't want Putin determining whether we have enough energy or not," the minister said. 

 Germany has long relied on Russia for a large chunk of its oil, coal and gas imports, despite opposition from the United States and other European countries that it was playing into Putin's hands. 

 The Merkel administration has continued with plans to open a second  gas pipeline - Nord Stream 2 - between Russia and northern Germany. The permit to operate the pipeline was only denied after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February. 

 Europe's largest economy has since tried to detox from Russia's oil and gas addiction to boost energy security, as well as part of Western sanctions on Moscow.  Germany prepares for gas shortages  Russia  also closed the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea last week for annual maintenance, but  fears  Moscow could use the opportunity to permanently cut off supplies. far. 

 Berlin believes that the supply cuts will be part of Russia's retaliation against the sanctions.