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HOUSTON / BERLIN — Germany’s Economy and Energy Minister, Katherina Reiche, issued a stark emergency warning on Thursday, March 26, 2026, stating that Europe’s largest economy could face a physical shortage of gasoline and diesel as early as next month if the conflict in the Persian Gulf does not end immediately.
Speaking at the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston, Texas, Reiche signaled that while Germany’s strategic reserves are currently at a “safe threshold,” the total breakdown of supply chains through the Strait of Hormuz is creating a “loophole” that short-term contingency plans cannot fill.
The “April-May” Cliff
The Minister’s assessment suggests that the “buffer” provided by national reserves is rapidly evaporating.
- Volume Scarcity: “We don’t see any scarcities in terms of volume yet—but if the conflict doesn’t end, we will see this probably later in April or May,” Reiche warned.
- The “Hormuz Hole”: With 20% of the world’s oil and LNG blocked, the shortage is reportedly “spreading rapidly from South Asia toward the European border.”
- Targeting Refined Fuels: Analysts at the conference noted that after aviation fuel, diesel and gasoline are the next commodities expected to fall into a deficit.
“A Huge Mistake”: Reiche Slams Nuclear Phase-Out
In a candid moment of reflection, the Minister linked Germany’s current vulnerability to past energy policy decisions, specifically the country’s exit from nuclear power.
“The phase-out of nuclear was a huge mistake, a huge mistake, and we miss this energy. Affordability, abundant energy, and energy security have to come back to the center of our policy. We concentrated on climate protection and underestimated affordability.” — Katherina Reiche
- The Lost 20 GW: Reiche noted that the retired nuclear plants could have provided 20 GW of CO2-free power at affordable prices, which would have shielded the industrial base from the current price spikes.
- The “Security Policy” Pivot: The Minister officially declared that in Berlin, “energy policy is now security policy.”
Emergency Response Measures
As the Friday sunrise deadline approaches, Germany is moving into an “emergency stance” to protect its fragile recovery.
| Measure | Status |
| Wind Energy Surge | Germany announced an additional 12 GW of onshore wind auction volumes to be fast-tracked by 2030. |
| Coal Reactivation | Berlin has already reverted to coal-fired power for electricity generation to save dwindling gas supplies. |
| Strategic Release | Germany participated in a coordinated IEA record oil stock release to stabilize the immediate market shock. |
| Rationing Contingency | While not yet active, the “Early Warning” level of the Emergency Plan for Gas remains in effect, with rationing at the pump being considered for April. |
The “Lehman” Risk
The Ifo Institute today revised Germany’s 2026 growth projection down to 0.8%, citing the “dampened recovery” caused by the war. Former officials have warned of a “Lehman effect” in the energy system—where the collapse of one utility or supplier due to high procurement costs triggers a systemic failure across the European market.
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