German Gas Storage Falls to a Record Low of 61.35%, Missing the 80% November 1 Target, as the Industry Urges Reform of Filling Rules
Germany must review and improve the mechanism for filling its gas storage caverns, the gas storage industry association INES said on November 1, as storage levels in Europe's largest economy remained at a record low ahead of winter. As of October 30, storage stood at 61.35 percent, well below the 80 percent target Germany had set for November 1, raising fears of supply shortages, although Berlin has said there will be no bottlenecks.
INES managing director Sebastian Heinermann said in a statement that the failure to meet the target shows that storage levels for coming winters must be guaranteed more rigorously. INES has prepared a report together with the gas grid operator association FNB Gas to help inform the political process.
The main driver of the lower storage levels has been the Iran war and its impact on prices, which made filling caverns over the summer uneconomical. On Friday, Germany rejected accusations from Italy that it had failed to fill its gas stores ahead of winter in order to reduce costs for its gas import companies and prepare them for privatisation.
Source: Reuters
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：天然气储存设施资料图。CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Natural gas storage tanks, file photo. CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
