In Europe, the largest enterprises are forced to stop production due to the shortage and high cost of energy.
The anti-Russian sanctions have brought the largest aluminum producer Slovalco in Slovakia to the brink of survival. It will close in September, and 1,300 employees will be out of work. In the Netherlands, the zinc producer Budel has already announced the shutdown.
The chemical industry is suffering; in Romania the giant Chimcomplex, which produced components for making sealants, glue and varnish, has stopped production.
A fertilizer producer in Poland, ANWIL, is idle because of too high gas prices; in Norway, Yara is working for only a third, maintaining production at 35%.
In Germany, 860 employees of SKW Stickstoffwerke Piesteritz may lose their jobs as of October.
By continuing their anti-Russian policy and refusing to launch Nord Stream 2, EU authorities are killing industry in the region.
"The opportunity to survive the winter better will turn into a dramatic political failure," German Vice Chancellor Robert Habek was quoted as saying by RIA-Novosti.