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Luxembourg's Ministry of Energy and Spatial Planning has unveiled the first measures of a national strategy aimed at reducing natural gas demand.
At the extraordinary meeting of the Energy Council of the European Union (EU) on 26 July 2022, EU Member States reached a political agreement on a voluntary (in a first phase) reduction of natural gas demand by 15% between 1 August 2022 and 31 March 2023. The Luxembourg Government has joined these reduction efforts and is now calling for immediate vigilance and solidarity from all stakeholders.
The Ministry of Energy and Spatial Planning has implemented, together with other relevant ministries, initial measures at the national level to increase the security of energy supply in the Grand Duchy. These measures, which aim to achieve energy savings over the coming months, in order to prepare for possible disruptions in the supply of gas from Russia, have been drawn up in close consultation with all the staekholders concerned. They involve the whole of society, from the State and the municipalities to residents and businesses.
1. State: measures to reduce energy consumption
In order to reduce the energy consumption of public buildings, Luxembourg's Ministry of Mobility and Public Works, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Spatial Planning, is developing clear instructions for the more energy-efficient management of public buildings. A circular note will be sent to all ministries.
2. Municipalities: key players in reducing energy consumption
The municipalities, which are all committed to Luxembourg's Climate Pact, are already making efforts and are active in the continuous improvement of their energy efficiency, which will lead to a reduction in their energy consumption and consequently in their energy costs.
In order to encourage them to strengthen these energy saving efforts, the Ministry of Home Affairs, together with the Ministry of Energy and Spatial Planning, will send a circular note to the municipalities about energy consumption vigilance and energy savings, proposing concrete energy sobriety measures within the framework of the various municipal activities.
In addition, together with the Klima-Agence, an online seminar on 8 September 2022 will provide more details on the national campaign, the documents made available to the municipality and the measures to be put in place.
3. Companies: close dialogue with the government in progress
In light of their important role in reducing national energy consumption, but also the constraints faced by companies, the Ministry of Energy and Spatial Planning and the Ministry of the Economy are in close and regular contact with the UEL (a union representing Luxembourg private-sector businesses), the FEDIL (Luxembourg's industry federation) and the professional chambers, in order to identify the potential for reducing energy consumption and to develop a strategy to raise awareness among their members.
4. Individuals: national campaign to launch in September
To become more quickly independent of energy imports, each resident is also invited to participate in these reduction efforts. In September 2022, the government will present a vast national information and awareness campaign, the objective of which is to encourage society as a whole to save energy. In addition, the government will step up its efforts to develop renewable energies.
Advice on saving energy is available online at: www.energie-spueren.lu.
