The Swiss are running out of wood stocks planned for the coming months as this raw material is increasingly seen as an alternative to combat the cold of winter in the face of the energy crisis and the foreseeable interruptions in the supply of Russian gas (47% of consumption national), according to national television RTS.
The wood reserves planned for autumn are already running out, the rate of sale this summer is equal to the month of December and there is concern that for winter there will not be enough raw material to market, warned a Meinier farmer, Flavien Desbiolles, in statements quoted by the television channel. As sellers warn, prices have risen 10% and some acknowledge having delivered record orders for summer. Desbiolles warned that it is especially worrying to run out of stocks of this material since the wood does not easily adapt to demand, as it takes two years to dry.
The liberal deputy of the western canton of Vaud, Daniel Ruch, will propose to the central government to promote the felling of wood on the slopes of the forests, since they are areas that accumulate enormous reserves.
The use of wood has some advantages, since it is a renewable energy source, but it also presents some problems such as air pollution, since its combustion emits more pollutants than gas. The Swiss government and power companies revealed on Wednesday that they plan to impose power cuts of up to four hours next winter if Europe's energy crisis continues.
