Germany's Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur, BNetzA) fears a complete cessation of gas supplies from Russia and calls on residents to save energy, Deutsche Welle reports. This statement was made by the head of BNetzA Klaus Mueller in an interview with the Funke Mediengruppe.

From July 11 to 21, Nord Stream AG will make a temporary halt to both strings of the Nord Stream pipeline for "scheduled maintenance.

The question is whether this maintenance will not turn into "ongoing maintenance for political reasons," said Muller.

If gas supplies from Russia "decline for a longer period, we will have to talk more seriously about saving," the head of the federal agency said. He said that the 12 weeks before the start of the heating season should be used to prepare for it.

Klaus Müller urged residents of Germany to promptly check the operation of gas-fired heating boilers and radiators.

"Maintenance can reduce gas consumption by 10 to 15 percent," he said.

"The work is better done now, not in the fall," the BNetzA head recommended.

Locksmiths should focus on heating and hot water service, Mueller added. In addition, he said, families should discuss now "whether each of the rooms in the house should be kept at their usual temperature during the winter, or whether some of them might be a little cooler."