“Urgent need for action” – gas storage is only 61 percent full

According to the operators, the gas storage facilities in Germany were only 61 percent full as of November 1st. This is a “historically low level; at extremely low temperatures, the gas supply in Germany could not be fully guaranteed in the coming winter,” warned the Energy Storage Initiative (Ines) on Tuesday. She sees an “urgent need for action for the strategic further development of winter preparedness”.

The government guidelines actually state that most storage facilities must be at least 80 percent full by November 1st. However, due to the high prices on the world market as a result of the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, importing and storing natural gas is currently hardly worthwhile. Federal Economics Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) rejects government intervention.

If the filling levels are not reached, the state can order the storage to be filled. One fear here is that gas sellers will speculate on exactly this, because the state would then probably buy at any price.