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  IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES European gas prices are now about 10 times higher than their average level over the past decade. In February 2021 UK gas was trading at 38p per therm (a measurement of gas consumption). This month it reached 537p per therm. What's driving those high prices? What's happened in the past year? Energy prices around the world rose sharply as Covid lockdowns were lifted and economies returned to normal. Many places of work, industry and leisure were all suddenly in need of more energy at the same time, putting unprecedented pressures on suppliers. Prices increased again in February this year, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. European governments looked for ways to import less energy from Russia, which had previously supplied 40% of the gas used in the EU. Prices for alternative sources of gas went up as a result. The EU has pledged to reduce its dependence on Russian gas and in July member states agreed to cut usage of gas by 15%. Germany, for insta...

  IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES A key Russian gas pipeline has been closed, further reducing supplies as European countries struggle with high energy prices. Gazprom, the Russian state-owned energy giant, said the closure of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline is needed for repairs and would last for three days. Western countries are trying to cut their dependency on Russian oil and gas imports following the invasion of Ukraine in February. How much Russian gas does Europe use? Russia supplied the EU with  40% of its natural gas  last year. Germany, Europe's largest economy, was the largest importer in 2021, followed by Italy. In 2021, the UK imported 4% of its needs from Russia, and in June this year, imported no Russian gas for the third month in a row. The US doesn't import any gas from Russia. However, they are affected when Russia restricts supplies to mainland Europe, as this causes global gas prices to rise. Russian energy provider Gazprom says the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Ge...