Glass industry reacts to the EU gas demand reduction plan
Faced with the looming crisis, Glass Alliance Europe supports the European Commission’s plan published on 20 July to save energy as of now in order to avoid power cuts and to stave off economic chaos. The guidance on prioritization within industries for the supply of energy in case of curtailment, recognises the utmost need to avoid lasting damage to Europe’s industrial assets.
“The specificity of the glass manufacturing process, which cannot be interrupted without severe damages to installations, is enough to justify the priority supply of energy to the glass industry,” declared Bertrand Cazes, Secretary General of Glass Alliance Europe.
Glass Alliance Europe welcomes that the European Commission highlights the need for glass products to continue delivering food and pharmaceuticals to Europeans. The plan also mentions how glass products are part of several critical value chains in buildings and defence and how glass applications in energy-savings and renewable energy generation are needed to help overcome the energy crisis.
Glass Alliance Europe calls on Member States to follow the EU guidance and its spirit when reviewing their national emergency plans to ensure the uninterruptability of the continuous glass manufacturing process and to prioritise critical cross-border supply chains to the extent possible.
Image: The gas demand reduction plan from the European Commission responds to the drop in supplies from Russia.
