Denmark, Germany Form Gas Supply Pact

The Danish and German governments have signed a solidarity agreement, promising to provide each other with gas supplies in the event of a supply crisis, they announced on December 15.

"Security of supply in Europe matters," German economy and energy minister Peter Altmaier said in a statement. "In this agreement, we have defined how Denmark and Germany can help each other out quickly in the unlikely event of an extreme shortage of gas."

Danish climate and energy minister Dan Jorgensen added that the pair were the first European countries to reach this kind of agreement, and it could inspire others to follow suit. In entering the agreement, the two countries have also implemented a revised EU regulation on safeguarding supply security.

This regulation requires all member states whose gas networks are connected to sign bilateral solidarity agreements, under which they will make gas deliveries to each other's households, district heating systems and essential social service institutions as a last resort.

Denmark imports gas from Germany since closing down its largest gas field Tyra for a redevelopment programme in September last year. Germany in turn gets its gas primarily from Russia, Norway and the Netherlands.