Germany warns of gas ‘crisis’ as it activates second phase of emergency plan

Robert Habeck shows a diagram about German gas storage during a news conference in Berlin (Markus Schreiber/AP)

Germany has activated the second phase of its three-stage emergency plan for natural gas supplies – saying the country faces a “crisis” and warning that storage targets for the winter are at risk due to dwindling deliveries from Russia.

The government said the decision to raise the level to “alarm” follows the cuts to Russian deliveries made since June 14 and the continued high market price for gas.