Germany’s gas crisis

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Olaf Scholz took office pledging a modern, greener Germany. But when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine cut off cheap gas, everything unravelled. Years of reliance on Russian energy meant Germany suddenly faced a crippling shortfall. Factories slowed output, homeowners saw bills skyrocket, and the government scrambled to import costly liquefied natural gas from the US and the Middle East.

I know this is an old story, but the Ukraine war has had a profound impact on the German economy ever since. Living next door to the country, I do feel for Germany. I speak their language to an extent and I have a lot of German friends. One thing I’ve learnt about the Germans is that they like to have a good old moan, and right now there is a lot of moaning going on. I don’t blame them personally. The knock-on effects of the war are still being felt today economically.