Soaring energy costs are fueling inflation, undermining the euro currency, and disrupting factories as Russia squeezes supplies to the continent amid its six-month war on Ukraine. With Europe already heading toward recession, failure to contain the crisis threatens to spur social unrest and political upheaval if the supply crunch prompts blackouts and cold homes this winter.
The continent relies heavily on liquefied natural gas imports to fill the gap left by Russia, but competition for the fuel with Asia has intensified after a relative lull earlier this summer. Asian prices are also surging as utilities there rush to secure supplies ahead of the cold season.
European Union energy ministers may hold an emergency meeting to discuss price spikes as leaders strike a more urgent tone. Member states have already earmarked almost $280 billion to ease the price burden but that is unlikely to be enough, while more than half of UK households risk being pushed into energy poverty with bills likely to rise by roughly 80% from October. […]
The rally is being accelerated by Electricite de France SA’s announcement that more of its reactors will take longer to come back online after halts. Coupled with tighter hydropower supplies, that means higher demand for gas in power generation.
Eskimos lived in ice houses at 60 below. Much of Europe barely freezes. The average December daily low in Berlin is 0C. The average December daily high is 4C. If it’s a matter of getting through the winter without kissing Russian ass, long johns and sweaters will get you through.
If I lived there it would not be the freezing that worried me , it’s the starving part.
scarP
Yup the ruskies are drawing up the declaration of surrender as we speak. You are like the COLON, and emotional twit, who doesn’t live with reality!
Cold weather regions are designed for bitter winters – insulation everywhere, double or triple glazed windows, energy efficient designs and furnaces, snow removal plans and energy/utilities/infrastructure designed for 6 months of winter. An extra cold winter or a prolonged cold snap ranges from annoying to uncomfortable in Sask.
*as a bonus winter hardy homes and infrastructure is also beneficial in hot summers.
In milder weather regions the cold is life threatening because their infrastructure can’t cope and fails. Plus cold temps kill much quicker than hot temps. Exposed flesh freezes in minutes at -30C plus a wind chill. Hypothermia and death doesn’t take long. Seasonal, weather related deaths are greater in winter than summer. Lack of affordable, reliable energy pretty much guarantees cold weather casualties. Directly or indirectly from fires and carbon monoxide poisoning as people desperately try to stay warm.
Historically, global cooling and ice ages are far more destructive to humans, plants and animals than warm periods. As usual, politicians are ass backwards about where the biggest dangers lie.
I served in W Germany ’85 – ’87, just north of Hanover. Didn’t happen often or for long, but temps hit -30’sC. Berlin might be fine, but people will die without adequate resources.
I wonder if any of the “Ostruppen” left are having flashbacks?
I sincerely hope that European countries and the UK get through this winter without any deaths. But, if I was in one of those insufficienct energy countries I’d plan to send my family elsewhere for the coldest months. If things go really bad, social unrest could cause anarchy and chaos.
I’ve seen estimates of 10,000 to 30,000 deaths per year due to cold in the UK. This was before COVID and while heating costs were moderate.
It will be worse this year.
I grew up in Poland, blackouts and insufficient heating were a norm under communism especially during winter. None died from cold. There is a lot of room between one and the other. Still Pootin’s agents of influence and assorted useful idiots will continue predicting Armageddon nonetheless.
Re: ” … but competition for the fuel with Asia has intensified after a relative lull earlier this summer. Asian prices are also surging as utilities there rush to secure supplies ahead of the cold season.”
But remember, our P.M. Shit-for-Brains has stated there is no business case to be made for LNG exports.
It’s the perfect storm eh?
The difference between a real perfect storm and this burgeoning economic catastrophe is that the storm is a random +4 sigma weather event, while this catastrophe is man-made and a predictable consequence of the energy and geoppolitical policy of globalist wokist lunatics.
How does feel now EUers? Not only are are you losing your proxy war in Ukraine but the economic fallout from your sanctions will be closed factories, and for your citizens unaffordable food and electricity prices.
While you shiver after a cold shower this winter meditate on the fact that the Russians are still enjoying warm ones.
Put a video of the idiots laughing at Trump on a billboard and loop it 24 hours a day.
It’s September and I just got my new monthly equal billing gas bill. It’s gone up from $95/month for the last 12 months to $140/month. South Western Ontario area.
Funny thing is that the natural gas component of the bill is pretty miniscule in general, what with all of the additional ‘fees’!
My recent June bill (Ontario) totalled $42.84, with Gas Supply Charge of $7.74! Carbon charge and HST totalled $8.06.
Never mind the “new monthly equal billing”; this is the new “greater than billing”…each new months bill is “greater than” the one before! 🙂
Cheers,
Hans Rupprecht, Commander in Chief
1st Saint Nicolaas Army
Army Group “True North”
Did you see the notice that they will be forward casting your payment rather than hindcasting it?
“as leaders strike a more urgent tone”. We’ve been warning them for months.
Will this slow down illegal immigration from the warmer countries?
Apparently… they’ve brought their 3rd world problems to Europe with them … they’ll feel right at home freezing in the night … even if they do bundle up in two sweaters like Scar and Jimmy Carter recommend.
I don’t know about that.
Those car bombs in Sweden sure light up the sky and provide lots of additional heat.
Those Muzzies are on to something.
Maybe they’ll be burning Eurocrats by then, green politicians and public health officials, the collaborative media: plenty of fuel to go round.
Not sure why the UK is short of gas, unless the extinction rebellion twits have block North Sea gas lines.
I swear by English-made Hudson Bay wool blankets, they seem to keep one in REM longer and one wakes up better rested.
Russell Brand is on a rant about obscene profits by energy companies while the unwashed are getting the shaft.
what to do? Call is out for 1 million protest in UK to stop paying energy bills.
It’s Happening Now
594,069 views Sep 2, 2022
If there are as many supporters of ‘Climate Action’ as our dear leader claims then all will go well. They will enjoy the experience as proof of their superiority. Shivering and starving for the cause, their cause, letting the rest of us go on with our lives. A true and real test of their faith.