Tightened requirements: gas storage tanks must be 95 percent full

requirements tightened
Gas storage tanks must be 95 percent full

In order for Germany to get through the cold season without rationing, the gas storage facilities must be as full as possible by winter. The specifications for the filling levels are now increased. However, it is far from certain whether the calculation will work out.

The German gas storage must be filled more for the winter than previously planned. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the ministries approved an ordinance according to which the storage facilities must now be 95 percent full by November 1 instead of the 90 percent previously planned. The regulations come into effect on Friday. A level of 85 percent instead of 80 percent is now mandatory as of October 1st. In addition, a new requirement for September 1 of 75 percent was introduced.

Economics Minister Robert Habeck announced the new interim target last week as part of an energy-saving package. Full storage facilities are a prerequisite for Germany to get through the winter without rationing despite reduced Russian gas supplies. The storage tanks are currently about 66 percent full.

The additional five percentage points compared to November meant around one billion cubic meters of gas, the ministry said. “The federal government is doing everything to continue to ensure security of supply,” assured Habeck. Significant progress has been made in the past few months. Nevertheless, the situation remains tense. “One thing is clear: the storage tanks have to be full. We are working on that with all our might,” emphasized the Green politician.

Delivery stop would nullify the invoice

Gas deliveries from Russia to Germany had recently been throttled again. Nevertheless, the German operators assume that gas can continue to be stored in the storage facilities. If LNG imports continue to be high, it is very likely that a filling level of over 90 percent will be reached by November 1st. However, the calculation is based on the assumption that gas transport through the Nord Stream 1 Baltic Sea pipeline is still 20 percent of maximum capacity. If this gas were to disappear as well, the situation would have to be reassessed.

The storage compensates for fluctuations in consumption and forms a buffer system for the market. They are usually well filled when the heating season begins in autumn. On cold winter days, up to 60 percent of gas consumption in Germany is covered by German storage facilities.

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