Austria And Germany To Share Haidach Natural Gas Storage Facility

HAIDACH, AUSTRIA - AUGUST 4: In this aerial view Haidach natural gas storage facility stands on August 4, 2022 near Haidach, Austria. The German and Austrian governments have agreed to share the site in an effort to strengthen their common energy needs in light of diminishing gas flows from Russia. The Haidach facility, which is among the biggest gas storage sites in Europe, previously supplied southern Germany and western Austria with gas and was not even connected to the gas network for supplying the rest of Austria. The Austrian government has also enacted legislation to seize unused storage capacity at the site from Russian energy company Gazprom, which is a major shareholder of the Haidach site but has curtailed its gas flows there. Both Germany and Austria are still heavily dependent on Russian gas imports but are feverishly seeking alternatives. The Russian government is using energy exports as a means to put pressure on European countries that are supporting Ukraine. (Footage by Alexandra Beier/Getty Images)