German utilities, government prepare responses to supply disruption

FRANKFURT - German energy firms and the government are in close talks about how to respond to possible supply disruptions should Russia stop gas exports in the row over payments in roubles, the industry association BDEW said on Thursday.

"There are currently no supply bottlenecks, but the federal government and the industry are making intensive preparations so that everyone involved has a clear roadmap of their rights and obligations in the event of a supply disruption," BDEW head Kerstin Andreae said in a statement.