Europe steps up efforts to prevent energy crisis

ISTANBUL

From capping prices to aiding businesses and households, European governments are announcing emergency measures to ease energy crisis that stemmed from Russia's war on Ukraine.

New plans were also put forward on Thursday in response to the deepening crisis.

Sweden

Sweden is closing churches and switching off saunas in many cities to lower its energy consumption and reduce costs this winter.

Andreas Mansson, an engineer overseeing the energy needs of churches in the Lund diocese, said 150 out of 540 churches in the diocese will be fully or partially closed this winter as part of national efforts to reduce energy consumption.

UK

The British government lifted a ban on fracking for shale gas, a controversial method to dig for fossil fuels, which has been in place since 2019.


"In light of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine and weaponization of energy, strengthening our energy security is an absolute priority, said Business and energy secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg.

"To get there, we will need to explore all avenues available to us through solar, wind, oil and gas production - so it's right that we've lifted the pause to realize any potential sources of domestic gas."

Fracking is a technique for recovering gas and oil from shale rock, and involves drilling into the earth, and can cause tremors.

Poland

The southwestern Polish city of Wroclaw will not host a New Year's Eve party this year, and apart from its Market Square, there will be no Christmas illuminations.

Wroclaw City Hall said the lighting of bridges will be shortened, and from 10 p.m. will be gradually turned off. The possibilities of turning off street lamps are also being analyzed.