Four years after the Nord Stream pipeline explosion, Germany continues to face record energy costs, deepening inflation, and growing public discontent over its energy policy. Data released this year show that heating prices have almost doubled since 2021, while industrial competitiveness has fallen sharply due to higher gas import costs and limited domestic supply.
According to figures from Techem, the cost of heating a German home has risen by 82% since 2021, reaching the highest level on record. Eurostat data indicate that millions of households now spend more than 40% of their income on housing and energy, fuelling frustration with the government’s energy transition strategy.
The 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline cut off Germany’s main supply route for Russian gas, forcing the country to rely on liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports. “Gas has become more expensive because it no longer arrives via pipeline but as liquefied natural gas, which costs much more,” said Andreas Fischer of the German Economic Institute (IW).
Germany now imports almost half its gas from Norway, with smaller volumes from the Netherlands and Belgium, at prices far higher than those offered by Moscow before the war in Ukraine.
The crisis has also tested the government’s decision to shut down its remaining nuclear power plants in 2023. Critics say the move deprived the country of reliable, low-cost energy just as demand from heavy industry remained high. Wind and solar power have struggled to fill the gap, particularly during winter months.
Once Europe’s industrial powerhouse, Germany has become increasingly dependent on foreign energy suppliers. The shift has forced Berlin to reopen coal plants and spend billions on subsidies to stabilise household and business costs.
Public opinion has turned sharply against the governing coalition, with polls showing widespread dissatisfaction over its handling of the energy transition. Many voters blame the Green-led ministries for what they see as an unrealistic approach that prioritised environmental goals over economic stability.
Nearly four years after the Nord Stream attack, Germany has yet to restore energy security. Promises of independence from Russian gas have given way to a costly dependency on imports, leaving both families and factories struggling with the long-term consequences of Europe’s most ambitious—and most expensive—energy experiment.
