Germany will need to use a four-month transition period to phase out Russian coal in line with European Union sanctions, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said, according to Reuters.

EU ambassadors have agreed on a fifth package of sanctions against Russia, including a coal embargo, with a 120-day transitional period to give EU member states time to find alternative suppliers.

A German economy ministry report prepared for parliament earlier this week warned that the country would likely have to turn off some of its power plants if it immediately stopped importing Russian coal.

An immediate ban on Russian coal imports would lead to a shortage of coal in a few weeks.