Germany calls for lower consumption as Nord Stream turns off gas tap further

The crucial thing is to save gas

Gas flows through Nord Stream 1 fell to a fifth of the pipeline's capacity on Wednesday, prompting Germany's network regulator to issue another plea to households and industry to save gas and avoid rationing, Qazet.az reports.

The cut in flows comes two days after the pipeline's majority owner Gazprom (GAZP.MM)flagged further reductions in deliveries, the latest painful blow to Europe's top economy which still largely depends on the fuel.

Klaus Mueller, head of Germany's Bundesnetzagentur regulator, said Germany could still avoid a gas shortage that would require it to trigger the next phase of an emergency plan that would prompt rationing.

But he said it would require efforts by both industry and consumers to reduce gas usage.

"The crucial thing is to save gas," Mueller said. "I would like to hear less complaints but reports (from industries saying) we as a sector are contributing to this," he told broadcaster Deutschlandfunk.