Germany will temporarily take control of a Gazprom PJSC plant in the country, as it seeks to ensure security of gas supply. Gazprom Germania GmbH – owner of energy supplier Wingas GmbH and a gas storage company – will be under the auspices of the German energy regulator until September 30, Economy Minister Robert Habeck told reporters in Berlin. This means that the Federal Network Service will take on the role of shareholder and will be able to take all necessary measures to ensure security of supply, he said. The government will not eventually take ownership of the company. Gazprom’s subsidiaries in Europe are under pressure as customers and business partners refuse to work with them, raising the prospect that some will not survive. Gazprom Germania’s Astora plant operates Germany’s largest gas storage plant in the northern city of Rehden in the state of Lower Saxony. The site is considered key to Germany’s energy security. “The federal government is doing what is necessary to ensure security of supply in Germany,” Habeck said in a statement on Monday. “It also means that we do not allow energy infrastructure in Germany to be subject to arbitrary decisions by the Kremlin.” Gazprom said Friday it no longer owns its German subsidiary, which also has a UK-based arm and units from Switzerland to Singapore. The Russian gas giant did not disclose the new ownership, but regulatory deposits showed that the transaction involved the departure of Gazprom Export Business Services LLC, the owner of Gazprom Germania. In turn, a company called Joint Stock Company Palmary became a shareholder in Gazprom Export Business Services LLC. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. Habeck said the Russian gas giant had left the German subsidiary without seeking government approval, in violation of German foreign trade law. It is unclear what will happen after September 30 and what the impact will be for Gazprom Germania’s UK subsidiaries in Singapore. The German plant also has a London-based trading arm and Gazprom Energy, a retail provider that the UK government plans to nationalize in the event of failure. (Background updates for UK drives in the last paragraph.) – With the help of Birgit Jennen and Carla Canivete.
