At a meeting of their energy ministers on Monday, EU countries agreed on minimum fill levels in their gas storage facilities for the coming winter. The approved proposal of the European Commission provides for a filling rate of at least 80 percent as of 1 November. Due to its large storage facilities, Austria only needs to have stored at least 35 percent of the average consumption per year.
The capacities will then be expanded successively in the following years. In contrast, EU countries that do not have sufficient storage capacity would have to store 15 percent of their annual domestic consumption in storage facilities in other EU countries. Solidarity within Europe is important, said Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) at the meeting with her colleagues in Luxembourg: “Austria has large storage facilities, so we depend on other countries for lines”. In addition, Austria is currently making intensive efforts to use Haidach, one of the most modern storage facilities in Europe, Gewessler referred to the plans to connect the gas storage in Salzburg to the Austrian gas network. Haidach is currently only connected to the German network.
The regulation adopted Monday by EU energy ministers also provides for stronger control of gas storage operators by member states. If an operator cannot prove that it is not endangering the EU’s energy supply, it may be required to sell its shares. This is to prevent possible external influences on critical storage infrastructures.
Austria emergency plan
Not least because of the war in Ukraine, the EU has decided to get rid of Russia’s energy supply as soon as possible. However, this is a difficult and lengthy undertaking, as people are very dependent on imports. In order to respond to a sudden failure of Russia, the Austrian government has drawn up an emergency plan. Austria is currently in the early warning phase. That was announced at the end of March when Russia threatened to accept payments in rubles only. As a result, a crisis team was set up at the time, gas flows have since been monitored around the clock and the government has decided on storage measures.
Germany is already one step further
These measures are currently sufficient, as our needs are being met. Germany has already declared the alert level and enough gas is still flowing to Austria to fill the storage tanks sufficiently. But if the reservoirs falter, we would soon reach the next level. In the alarm phase, the final preparations for calamities are then made as soon as there are signals that supplies are being limited. Large consumers must then report their consumption to E-Control on a weekly basis. You will be asked to consume less and to replace gas.
The third level is the emergency level. All companies are then obliged to participate in the auction and trading system for scarce natural gas (FlexMOL). Replacement (coal, biomass, etc.) will become mandatory, the limit values for polluting substances will be suspended. The government can also intervene if necessary. The Department of Energy assures that households will not be affected by budget cuts.
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.
