Faced with rising energy prices, the Confederation has committed 10 billion to support the electricity sector. The president of the umbrella of gas suppliers calls for a similar mechanism. With rising prices, some suppliers may indeed run out of funds to make their purchases.
If prices soar too much on the international gas market, Swiss suppliers may have to commit significant financial guarantees to continue to have their share of the cake. This is the crux of the problem, as explained in La matinale the director of the French-speaking supplier Gaznat, René Bautz. If he confirms that at this stage it is only a possibility, it is better, according to him, to prepare for it.
“We anticipated the problem a little and we have obtained sufficient credit lines from the banks for the moment. But it is clear that if prices explode, we might be faced with problems.”
Subsidiarity principle
If the Confederation has not intervened so far, it is by virtue of the principle of subsidiarity provided for in the law. Concretely, it is up to the gas sector to prepare for the shortage and to invoke state aid if it needs it. For the moment, it has not done so, as indicated by Karim Mhedbi, scientific collaborator at the Federal Office for the economic supply of the country.
“The branch has so far confirmed that it is able to finance these measures itself. But the Confederation has reminded the branch, through a letter signed by Federal Councilor Simonetta Sommaruga and Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin, that she was ready to study any request for financing to respond to the financial problem that might arise.
The doors therefore remain open, if necessary.
Marielle Savoy/fgn