The German government confirmed on Monday that the country's gas supplies are secured for the upcoming winter, despite storage levels falling below the percentages specified in regulatory frameworks. A spokesperson for the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs told Agence France-Presse that the winter will pass "under good conditions," noting that this view aligns with the positions of the European Commission and the Federal Network Agency.
Storage rates below standards
According to data released yesterday by the European platform "Aggregated Gas Storage Inventory" (AGS), German gas stocks were filled at a rate of 61.5 percent. This level is significantly lower than the threshold stipulated in regulatory frameworks, which mandate an average filling of 70 percent, and is also below the European Union average of approximately 75 percent.
Expectations for future capacity enhancement
New terminals inaugurated in Wilhelmshaven in 2025, and others anticipated in Stade in the north, are expected to further enhance these capacities in the future. In this context, the German Gas Storage Facility Operators Association (INES), an organization representing more than 90 percent of the country's gas storage capacity, stated that the government's filling targets "have not been met."
Calls to strengthen preparedness measures
The organization pointed out that this constitutes a "clear indicator of the need to strengthen winter preparedness measures," calling for a mandate on gas suppliers to build sufficient reserves before winter, rather than relying solely on market mechanisms and commercial incentives. Regarding markets, the price of European gas exceeded the threshold of 100 euros per megawatt-hour for the first time in four years last Wednesday, driven by the war in the Middle East and lower storage levels compared to last year as winter approaches.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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