The Austrian government on Sunday agreed with Verbund to re-equip the reserve gas power plant so that it can generate electricity from coal if the restriction of gas supplies from Russia leads to an emergency in the energy sector,
KYIV. UkraineGate . 20 .June .2022 | World News.
Details
The decision, made by a “small anti-crisis cabinet” led by Chancellor Karl Nehammer, came after neighboring Germany announced measures to address cuts in Russian gas supplies, including increased dependence on coal-fired power plants.
Nehammer’s office said the state utility company Verbund had agreed to convert the closed Mellach power plant in southern Styria to coal. It was the last coal-fired power plant in Austria before it was converted to gas for use if necessary.
“The federal government and the Verbund energy group have agreed to re-equip the district thermal power plant in Mellah, Styria, which is currently closed so that it can generate electricity from coal (not gas) in the event of an emergency,” Nehammer said in a statement.
It adds that the government is considering further measures to diversify gas supplies in order to reduce dependence on supplies from Russia.
Addition
The European Union’s dependence on Russian gas and the risk that Moscow could cut supplies in response to economic sanctions imposed after its invasion of Ukraine have been a major pain for the bloc, prompting it to build up reserves and seek alternative sources of supply.
Austria gets 80% of its gas from Russia, and after the war in Ukraine it is trying hard to find alternative suppliers.
Last week, Austria announced cuts in gas supplies from Russia’s Gazprom
Source: Ukrgate