Despite the fact that gas deliveries from Russia were stopped at the end of August, the German gas storage facilities are now more than 90 percent full. This is evident from data from the European storage operators, which were published on the internet on Monday evening. For example, the memory reached a level of 90.07 percent last Sunday – 0.32 percentage point more than the day before. The level information is always reported with a delay.
A ministerial regulation stipulates that the German storage depots must be at least 95 percent filled by 1 November, i.e. in six weeks. The amount of gas stored at this level roughly corresponds to national consumption in January and February 2022.
Levels decrease in the spring
The storage facilities compensate for fluctuations in gas consumption and thus form a kind of buffer system for the gas market. They are usually well stocked when the heating season begins in the fall. Fill levels then decrease until spring. On cold winter days, up to 60 percent of gas consumption in Germany is covered by German storage facilities.
The federal government wants to take various measures to ensure that the gas storage tanks are as full as possible at the start of the heating period. Germany should be better able to cope with the total failure of Russian deliveries over the winter.
Natural gas from Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium
Germany currently receives natural gas through pipelines from Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium. Around the turn of the year, the first two terminals for landing liquefied natural gas (LNG) on the German North Sea coast will be put into operation.
According to preliminary information, gas storage facilities in the EU were on average 85.99 percent full on Sunday. Since the spring, it has been stipulated throughout the EU that storage tanks must be 80 percent full by 1 November. This goal had already been achieved at the end of August. 18 Member States have underground gas storage facilities.
Maintenance planned until next Saturday
The filling level of the largest German warehouse in Rehden in Lower Saxony is currently almost 75 percent. Due to planned maintenance on this storage, no more storage has been carried out since last Monday. The maintenance should last until next Saturday.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
