ARCHIV - 21.06.2022, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lubmin: Blick auf Rohrsysteme und Absperrvorrichtungen in der Gasempfangsstation der Ostseepipeline Nord Stream 1 und der Übernahmestation der Ferngasleitung OPAL (Ostsee-Pipeline-Anbindungsleitung). Die Furcht vor zunehmenden Angebotsengpässen hat die Gaspreise in Europa auf einen viermonatigen Höchststand getrieben. (zu dpa «Europäischer Gaspreis steigt auf Viermonatshoch») Foto: Stefan Sauer/dpa +++ dpa-Bildfunk +++

On Tuesday, the trend-setting futures contract TTF rose to around 175 euros per megawatt hour on the energy exchange in the Netherlands. This is the highest level since March. Compared to the previous day, there is a price increase of around eight percent.

The tight supply remains decisive. Russia has reduced its deliveries via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline by about 60 percent in recent weeks. Russia justifies this with technical problems. Western states are seeing a political reaction to the sanctions they imposed over the Russian attack on Ukraine.

There is currently concern that Russia could use the regular maintenance of Nord Stream 1 to turn off the gas supply completely. Pipeline maintenance begins on July 11 and typically takes just under two weeks to complete.