THE WHAT? Manufacturers in the European Union could be offered financial incentives to reduce their use of natural gas as part of a wider strategy to mitigate a potential energy crisis, according to a report published by the Financial Times.

THE DETAILS The European Commission’s Gas Demand Reduction Plan advises Member States to pay companies to curb their use of the commodity, as supply is under threat as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war. Other recommendations include turning down the thermostat in public buildings and switching to renewables.

THE WHY? The European Union is seeking alternatives to Russian gas in the face of a potential ‘sudden supply disruption’. Russia has traditionally supplied some 40 percent of the trade block’s gas.