The key facts

  • German gas storage is about 62% full against the legally mandated 80% level (Financial Times)
  • Bundestag member Michael Kellner warned that every cold front or supply disruption will drive prices up
  • Politico previously reported a possible winter gas shortage in the EU of up to 14 billion cubic meters with storage 72% full

Storage levels are well below the target

Germany is entering the winter season with gas reserves significantly below the target level: storage facilities are about 62% full, while the law requires 80%. This was reported by the Financial Times; the same is reported by Gazeta.Ru, citing the newspaper Bild.

Warning from a Bundestag member

Bundestag member from the Green party Michael Kellner statedthat Germany has virtually no emergency gas reserve for the winter. “The gas storage facilities are so empty that Germany has practically no emergency reserve for the winter. Therefore, every cold front, every minor disruption in the supply chain will immediately lead to a rise in gas prices,” Bild quoted him as saying.

EU context

In October, Politico reported that the European Union could face its largest gas shortage next winter — up to 14 billion cubic meters, since European storage facilities are only 72% full. Germany's figure (62%) is below this EU-wide estimate. Earlier, Germany also criticized the European Commission's decision on Russian gas — sources do not specify exactly what the decision concerned.