The Netherlands is joining Germany and Austria in reverting to coal power on Monday following an energy crisis provoked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Netherlands said it would lift all restrictions on power stations fired by fossil fuel, which were previously limited to just over a third of output.

Berlin and Vienna made similar announcements on Sunday as Moscow, facing biting sanctions over Ukraine, cuts gas supplies to energy-starved Europe. Germany however said it still aimed to close its coal power plants by 2030, in light of the greater emissions of climate-changing CO2 from fossil fuels.

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Russia’s invasion of its pro-Western neighbour has sent global prices for energy soaring and raised the prospect of shortages if supplies were to be cut off. Russian energy giant Gazprom has already stopped deliveries to a number of European countries, including Poland, Bulgaria, Finland, and the Netherlands.

Germany’s reliance on Russian energy imports has made it particularly vulnerable as Moscow looks for leverage against the West.

more at france24.com