Europe Prepares for Winter Facing an Energy Crisis
2022-10-01
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1As cold weather comes to Europe this autumn, energy prices are rising.
2A main reason for the cost increase is Russia's war with Ukraine.
3Russia has been a main supplier of oil and natural gas for many European countries.
4Supplies have been limited because of the war and financial restrictions meant to punish Russia.
5As a result, home and business owners from Bulgaria to Spain are worried about the cost of energy in the coming months.
6German leader Olaf Scholz said his country prepared during the summer so that it can go "bravely and courageously into this winter."
7Scholz said no one could have made the same statement earlier this year.
8In Paris, a decision to reduce energy use means the lights on the Eiffel Tower will turn off one hour earlier than normal.
9Also, businesses and restaurants that kept their lights on even when they were closed will now turn off their lights at night.
10Here are some other measures concerned business owners around Europe are taking to save money:
11In Hungary, Richard Kovacs manages business for a group of hamburger restaurants called Zing Burger.
12He said the restaurants are already heating their cooking surfaces, or grills, less often and making sure lights are off in little-used storage areas.
13Some of the restaurants have seen a 750 percent increase in electricity costs since the beginning of the year.
14He said the restaurants cannot do much more to lower their costs.
15"We can't turn off the lights and make our guests sit in the dark," he said.
16In the Netherlands, some businesses are "in survival mode."
17They are doing everything they can because they do not want to lose the customers they have worked so hard for.
18Wouter van den Bosch helps run Bosch Growers, a company that has been in his family for generations.
19They grow peppers and blackberries.
20Already, he has reduced costs by lowering temperatures in his indoor growing spaces.
21But the lower costs also mean fewer peppers and blackberries for sale.
22He said he needs to keep selling his produce because he does not want to "ruin the reputation" his family made over so many years.
23Andreas Schmitt is a baker who owns 25 stores in Frankfurt, Germany.
24He said he is not heating as many ovens as before and not making as many different products.
25He said he is reducing his energy use between five and 10 percent.
26However, his energy costs will still rise from about $300,000 this year to over $1 million next year.
27A small change to his energy use, he said "is not going to shift the world."
28Schmitt leads the local baker's industry group.
29He said some smaller business owners are thinking about giving up.
30He hopes the German government will give small bakers some money so they can stay in business this winter.
31Over the long term, he said, energy markets need to be changed.
32Bruegel, a research business in Belgium, is looking at both short-term and long-term solutions.
33In the coming months, the company said, some European governments plan to help pay for people's energy costs.
34They also plan to help energy companies buy more gas so they can meet demand.
35Some nations are changing their gas suppliers.
36Instead of buying gas from Russia, they are getting gas from Norway, Azerbaijan and buying liquefied gas that comes by boat from the United States.
37They also are considering raising taxes on energy companies that are making money from higher energy prices.
38And they are thinking of ways to control electricity markets so natural gas prices do not affect them so much.
39However, European Union officials believe the way to get out of the current situation is to increase the use of renewable energy.
40That is power that comes from wind, water and the sun.
41In Madrid, Spain, some people are installing solar panels.
42Manuel Ruiz said he and the other people who live close to him are now reducing their use of gas by 40 percent.
43While European governments are going away from Russia as an energy provider, it is not easy to give it up completely.
44One energy policy expert who looks at Eastern Europe is Agata Loskot-Strachota. She is based in Warsaw, Poland.
45Because Russia is still supplying some gas, Loskot-Strachota said, the country's leader, Vladimir Putin, still has power over Europe.
46The threat of Russia completely cutting off its supply has some people worried that those currently supporting Ukraine will change their minds.
47There have already been energy-related protests in Belgium and the Czech Republic.
48"Every molecule counts," Loskot-Strachota said. She called the flow of gas "leverage," and noted that an energy crisis could send some European countries into poverty.
49Bulgaria is one of those countries.
50It is the poorest member of the European Union.
51Right now, the cost of fuel, such as firewood, is going up.
52People are reducing their spending now to be sure they have money to pay for heat and medicine over the winter.
53Gregor Iliev is 68 and retired.
54He lives in a small apartment in Sofia, Bulgaria with his wife.
55When price increases were announced for their old heating system, the two decided to buy a new one.
56The new system provides heat in the winter and cools their home in the summer.
57It is costly, but Iliev said they will make their money back "in the long run."
58In Budapest and Prague, people who own restaurants and bakeries say they have done everything possible to cut costs.
59The next thing is to raise prices.
60Eszter Roboz runs a bakery in Budapest.
61She raised prices by 10 percent and said if prices remain stable from now on, she can stay in business.
62But she is worried about what will happen if they continue to go up.
63"We will really need to think about whether we can continue this," she said.
64I'm Dan Friedell.
1As cold weather comes to Europe this autumn, energy prices are rising. A main reason for the cost increase is Russia's war with Ukraine. 2Russia has been a main supplier of oil and natural gas for many European countries. Supplies have been limited because of the war and financial restrictions meant to punish Russia. As a result, home and business owners from Bulgaria to Spain are worried about the cost of energy in the coming months. 3German leader Olaf Scholz said his country prepared during the summer so that it can go "bravely and courageously into this winter." 4Scholz said no one could have made the same statement earlier this year. 5In Paris, a decision to reduce energy use means the lights on the Eiffel Tower will turn off one hour earlier than normal. Also, businesses and restaurants that kept their lights on even when they were closed will now turn off their lights at night. 6Here are some other measures concerned business owners around Europe are taking to save money: 7A Hamburger seller in Hungary 8In Hungary, Richard Kovacs manages business for a group of hamburger restaurants called Zing Burger. He said the restaurants are already heating their cooking surfaces, or grills, less often and making sure lights are off in little-used storage areas. Some of the restaurants have seen a 750 percent increase in electricity costs since the beginning of the year. 9He said the restaurants cannot do much more to lower their costs. 10"We can't turn off the lights and make our guests sit in the dark," he said. 11A fruit grower in the Netherlands 12In the Netherlands, some businesses are "in survival mode." They are doing everything they can because they do not want to lose the customers they have worked so hard for. 13Wouter van den Bosch helps run Bosch Growers, a company that has been in his family for generations. They grow peppers and blackberries. Already, he has reduced costs by lowering temperatures in his indoor growing spaces. But the lower costs also mean fewer peppers and blackberries for sale. 14He said he needs to keep selling his produce because he does not want to "ruin the reputation" his family made over so many years. 15A baker in Germany 16Andreas Schmitt is a baker who owns 25 stores in Frankfurt, Germany. He said he is not heating as many ovens as before and not making as many different products. He said he is reducing his energy use between five and 10 percent. However, his energy costs will still rise from about $300,000 this year to over $1 million next year. 17A small change to his energy use, he said "is not going to shift the world." 18Schmitt leads the local baker's industry group. He said some smaller business owners are thinking about giving up. 19He hopes the German government will give small bakers some money so they can stay in business this winter. Over the long term, he said, energy markets need to be changed. 20Bruegel, a research business in Belgium, is looking at both short-term and long-term solutions. In the coming months, the company said, some European governments plan to help pay for people's energy costs. They also plan to help energy companies buy more gas so they can meet demand. 21Some nations are changing their gas suppliers. Instead of buying gas from Russia, they are getting gas from Norway, Azerbaijan and buying liquefied gas that comes by boat from the United States. 22They also are considering raising taxes on energy companies that are making money from higher energy prices. And they are thinking of ways to control electricity markets so natural gas prices do not affect them so much. 23However, European Union officials believe the way to get out of the current situation is to increase the use of renewable energy. That is power that comes from wind, water and the sun. 24In Madrid, Spain, some people are installing solar panels. Manuel Ruiz said he and the other people who live close to him are now reducing their use of gas by 40 percent. 25A political problem 26While European governments are going away from Russia as an energy provider, it is not easy to give it up completely. 27One energy policy expert who looks at Eastern Europe is Agata Loskot-Strachota. She is based in Warsaw, Poland. 28Because Russia is still supplying some gas, Loskot-Strachota said, the country's leader, Vladimir Putin, still has power over Europe. The threat of Russia completely cutting off its supply has some people worried that those currently supporting Ukraine will change their minds. There have already been energy-related protests in Belgium and the Czech Republic. 29"Every molecule counts," Loskot-Strachota said. She called the flow of gas "leverage," and noted that an energy crisis could send some European countries into poverty. 30Bulgaria is one of those countries. It is the poorest member of the European Union. Right now, the cost of fuel, such as firewood, is going up. People are reducing their spending now to be sure they have money to pay for heat and medicine over the winter. 31Gregor Iliev is 68 and retired. He lives in a small apartment in Sofia, Bulgaria with his wife. When price increases were announced for their old heating system, the two decided to buy a new one. The new system provides heat in the winter and cools their home in the summer. It is costly, but Iliev said they will make their money back "in the long run." 32In Budapest and Prague, people who own restaurants and bakeries say they have done everything possible to cut costs. The next thing is to raise prices. 33Eszter Roboz runs a bakery in Budapest. She raised prices by 10 percent and said if prices remain stable from now on, she can stay in business. But she is worried about what will happen if they continue to go up. 34"We will really need to think about whether we can continue this," she said. 35I'm Dan Friedell. 36Dan Friedell adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press. 37________________________________________________________________________ 38Words in This Story 39courageously -adv. done in a brave way that shows courage 40guest -n. people who are invited to stay with someone; customers 41mode -n. a way of doing things or of behaving 42reputation -n. the common opinion that people have about someone 43install -v. to make a machine ready for use 44leverage -n. influence or power that can be used to get a result 45stable -adj. not changing sharply; in a good state that is not easily changed 46______________________________________________________________________ 47We want to hear from you. Do you think the businesses will be able to keep going after this winter? 48We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 49Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.