EU Commissioner Warns of Energy Bill Burdens During Winter

Brussels, October 29 (KUNA) – EU Energy Commissioner Daniel Jørgensen warned on Thursday that rising oil and gas prices will make it harder for many European citizens to pay their energy bills this winter, despite no expected shortage in supplies. Speaking at a press conference after attending a meeting of European energy ministers in Luxembourg, Jørgensen said that higher prices mean that having sufficient quantities of oil and gas available in the markets is not enough to ease the burden on consumers. He added that member states have reaffirmed their commitment to releasing 42.6 million barrels of oil from their strategic reserves in the coming months, in line with the Group of Seven (G7) pledge to bolster global energy supplies. He clarified that about half of the volumes to be released will be diesel, a move aimed at helping to ease pressure on energy markets. Prior to the meeting, Jørgensen told reporters that “around 50 million Europeans cannot adequately heat their homes,” warning that this number could rise as the bloc enters the winter heating season amid an energy crisis he described as potentially more severe than the one Europe faced four years ago. (End) A.R.N. / M.A.A.