The worst-case scenario for Germany in what has been dubbed an ‘energy war’ would be gas shortages severe enough this winter to prompt prioritising of supplies to households over industry. Far from unthinkable, this will take place if Germany moves one notch higher from its current ‘alert level’ status to ‘emergency level’ on its three-point warning system.

Germany has been topping up its gas storage all summer to a near-full level, media reports say, while its advancing efforts to boost alternative gas imports in liquified form, are intended to make this possibility more remote.