HELSINKI/BRUSSELS: Europe may face an even more acute energy crunch next year after draining its natural gas tanks to get through the cold of this winter, the head of the International Energy Agency said on Wednesday , as the EU looks for ways to ease the crisis.
"With gas storages almost at 90 per cent, Europe will survive the coming winter with just some bruises as long as there are no political or technical surprises," said Fatih Birol, executive director of the Paris-based IEA. The fees form part of electricity bills, accounting for around 10 per cent of overall costs for retail customers and a third for industrial companies in sectors such as steel or chemicals.
Three of the four lines have been disabled by what the West and Russia say was sabotage causing huge leaks and the Danish authorities said the fourth was being depressurised on Tuesday.President Vladimir Putin on Friday blamed the United States and its allies, allegations rejected by Washington. Russia has condemned what it called"stupid" theories in the West that it sabotaged the pipelines itself in explosions last week.