Russia cut gas imports to Germany via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to just over 14-kilowatt hours (kWh) per hour on Wednesday, roughly 20% of the capacity of the pipeline.
While 27 million kWh of gas arrived at the German terminal in Lubmin between 6 am (0400 GMT) and 7 am, the volume had decreased to 17 million kWh between 8 am and 9 am and then sank to just over 14 million kWh from 9 am.
This is the level at which deliveries are expected to remain for the rest of the day, according to the Nord Stream 1 website.
The move had been announced by the Russian gas company Gazprom, which said it would cut down the volume of gas deliveries via Nord Stream 1 from 40% to 20% of capacity.
Russia is blaming the reduced volume of gas deliveries on technical issues resulting from the sanctions imposed on Moscow by the West.
However, the German government is among those who see the lower gas deliveries as Moscow exploiting its leverage against the heavily reliant German – and, indeed, European – energy market for political purposes.
The chief of the German Federal Network Agency, Klaus Müller, accused Russia of weaponizing its gas supply in an interview with German broadcaster Deutschlandfunk on Wednesday.
The dwindling gas supply from Russia is raising concerns that the German government may have to take control of the gas supply in the coming winter. As gas is also used for heating, demand is much higher in cold weather.
Experts, including German energy economist Claudia Kemfert, said that it is crucial for the country to start saving its gas now, in order to fill up its stocks before the winter.
Kemfert spoke out in favour of a scheme in which companies can apply for compensation for saving on gas, and for more help for households to save gas.
She warned that Germany was already running late with its efforts to save enough gas for the winter.
Households should also prepare for higher prices; according to the energy expert of the North-Rhine Westphalia consumer advice centre, Udo Sieverding, 1 kWh of gas could soon go up in price from around 5 cents to 25 cents.
German gas stocks are at 66.4% as of Tuesday. The government plans to reach 75% by September 1, 85% by October 1, and 95% by November 1, in order to avert a situation where households and industry would compete for the limited supply.
However, it is unclear how gas imports will continue. Russia has shown itself to be an unreliable source; “[Russian President Vladimir] Putin is playing a perfidious game,” said Economic Minister Robert Habeck.