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There's a run on camp stoves on Spain's Balearic Islands, while a key energy analyst says there could be gas shortages.
It's all proof that Europe's energy emergency isn't over.
Energy prices soared to the top of the political agenda last month — even being discussed by EU leaders. The reason was an unexpected surge in natural gas prices coupled with sluggish renewable energy production. That saw gas and power prices spike in many countries — causing squeals of outrage from consumers and immediate concern from politicians.
October's price worries subsided when Russia promised to start replenishing its storage systems in Austria and Germany this month.
But now the disquiet is back — and politicians across the Continent are helping fuel a freakout.
Austrian Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner was the first national figure to warn consumers last month that low energy supplies might make the lights go out this winter. Tanner launched a nationwide poster campaign instructing Austrians to prepare for power cuts by keeping 15 days' worth of food on hand.
“The question is not whether a blackout will come, but rather when,” she told the press.
Spain was next, after Algeria shut off one of its two pipelines feeding natural gas to the Iberian Peninsula at the end of October. Algiers says it will fulfill its contracts, and the Spanish government is projecting an aura of calm about gas supplies. Ecological Transition Minister Teresa Ribera insists the country has enough europe energy freakout
