'An investor's worst nightmare': Energy rationing spells greater chaos for supply chains

Business confidence falls

While Putin foments disunity over energy in the West, the crisis around supply has raised questions about the potential for energy rationing this winter.

With a temporary reduction in supply and the reality of permanently higher costs for energy-intensive industries, experts told Investment Week there would be winners and losers. The European Commission has finalised emergency legislation imposing a six-month voluntary 15% gas reduction across the EU, however some countries will have exemptions and allowances. This greatly watered-down version of the original proposal to ration gas across the bloc was the result of strong opposition from Spain, Portugal and Greece, who protested it was Germany's 50-year over-reliance on Russian energy ...