As Russia cuts gas, German city residents forced to take cold showers

GBNews24 Desk//

People in Hanover, Germany, are stuck with cold showers and reduced heat in city buildings as Russia continues to cut its gas supply to Europe, reports CBC Radio.

Hanover is the first major European city to start making significant cuts to its energy usage to brace for a possible winter gas crisis as the Russian war in Ukraine rages on.

“We are facing hard times due to the Russian aggression on Ukraine. And as we see that there’s a looming gas shortage, this is a major challenge for municipalities,” Hanover Mayor Belit Onay told As It Happens guest host Helen Mann.

“We have to prepare ourselves for the winter. And every kilowatt hour saved relieves the burden on gas storage facilities.”

The city’s goal is to cut its energy use by 15 per cent, bringing them in line with a recent European Union agreement to ration energy and wean itself from dependence on Russian gas.