Gas dispute between Switzerland and Italy escalates
As the “Sontagszeitung” writes, a gas dispute between Switzerland and Italy has led to a roof fire. Gas imports are particularly important for Switzerland as it does not have its own gas storage facilities. Italy and Germany recently tightened their gas export laws. It practically prohibits exports to Switzerland in the event of a crisis.
Switzerland threatens to type
The only security in Switzerland is the transit line between Germany and Italy. Therefore, the Swiss authorities are now threatening to use the gas from this pipeline for themselves, even if it is destined for Italy. According to a clause, Switzerland has the right to do so in the event of a crisis.
Negotiations on energy solidarity agreements with neighboring countries significantly reduced the threat. According to informed sources, the Italians have reacted violently. A spokesman for Energy Minister Simonetta Somaruga said: “In this situation, of course, every country is considering a variety of scenarios, including extreme ones.”
Somaruga: «Stop wasting energy»
Somaruga described the gas savings target of 15 percent agreed in the EU as “quite reasonable”. However, such a decision by the Federal Council is still pending – an energy-saving campaign is to be launched in the autumn.
“We have to stop wasting energy,” said Somaruga in an interview with “Sontagsblick”. That would be the main message. Heat just one degree less, save five percent energy. Public administration should lead by example.
The fact that such a campaign only comes in the autumn and is not already running like in Germany is due to the local power generation: “In Switzerland we generate a large part of our electricity from hydropower,” says Somaruga. Germany, on the other hand, uses a lot of gas to generate electricity. Switzerland only uses gas for heating in winter. “If you now tell people how to save money because it’s so hot in the summer, nobody understands.”
Impending bottlenecks are also not a sign of energy policy failure: “A policy that blindly relied on gas and oil imports has failed! It has made our country dependent and vulnerable,” said the energy minister. Switzerland is completely dependent on foreign countries for oil and gas. An excess of it is therefore the wrong way.