Gas: Germany Shuts Off Tap to Czechia

Europe’s energy self-sufficiency is fluctuating. The dispute between the Czech Republic and Germany provided insight into the extent of Eastern European countries’ dependence on Russian natural gas. In recent weeks, German gas transmission network operator Gascade Gastransport has “drastically reduced the capacity” of the Brandov gas pipeline, through which the Czech Republic received energy from Germany. In an official statement, Gascade Gastransport informed the Prague government that “the reduction in gas supply capacity to the Czech Republic reflects a change in the market situation.”

Simply put, the faucet was shut off primarily to ensure Germany’s energy security, disregarding the interests of the developing eastern state.

“Closing the tap” on the German side drew sharp protests from Czech Industry and Trade Minister Josef Sikela, who wrote in a letter to German Economy Minister Robert Habeck that “Germany’s unilateral decision increases the likelihood of an increase in gas imports from Russia by Central and Eastern European countries.”

In this context, one cannot but be surprised by the blackmailing tone of the message, but above all by the sincere and yet naive confidence of Sikela, a minister of the Czech government, which is extremely hostile to Russia, that Gazprom will welcome Prague’s possible request with open arms. Especially at a time when the former Soviet Druzhba gas pipeline through Ukraine is operating at 11% of its capacity and can barely meet the energy needs of friendly countries, including Hungary and Slovakia.

Prague’s warning, also sent to European Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson, “followed agreements reached within the working group we set up with Germany and the European Commission at ministerial level,” the Czech minister wrote, accusing Berlin of “reducing the export capacity of the pipeline to accumulate in German warehouses the amount of gas destined for the Czech Republic.”