Austrian minister confident that country faces no risk of blackout this winter

Based on the results of the relevant stress tests conducted in Austria, the country is not expected to suffer electricity shortages or blackouts this winter.

"The electricity stress test shows us two things: Austria has a good and secure energy supply, and we are facing a challenging winter that we can nevertheless manage well in a realistic scenario", Reuters reported, citing the Austrian Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler who presented the results. 

The stress test, conducted by national grid operator APG, found that the most realistic scenario did not present a single hour of a so-called "load shortfall" in Austria, during which supply would not be able to cover demand, Gewessler said.

In a "very critical scenario", Austrians could be merely asked to curb usage due to insufficient power supply, but a high risk of a blackout was not present in any of the scenarios, the minister ensured.