EU Gas Storage Injections Reach Almost 3 bcm Since April Start
European underground gas storage 30.82% full with 68 bcm target for winter 2026-2027
Quick Look
- EU countries have pumped nearly 3 bcm of gas into underground storage facilities since the summer filling season began in April 2026, with storage currently at 30.82% capacity (33.8 bcm).
- To meet EU requirements of 90% fill by November 1, at least 68 bcm of net injection is needed, though Europe only achieved around 55 bcm in the previous year.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The EU requires member states to fill underground gas storage to 90% capacity by November 1 each year, with 10% flexibility allowed for difficult conditions. This policy aims to ensure energy security during the winter heating season.
MOSCOW, April 24. /TASS/. Net pumping of gas by EU countries into underground gas storage (UGS) facilities since the beginning of the summer season in April 2026 has reached almost 3 bln cubic meters (bcm), according to TASS calculations based on Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) data. Currently, European underground gas storage facilities are 30.82% full, containing around 33.8 bcm of gas. The European Commission requests EU members to make sure their UGS facilities are 90% full by November 1 of each year. Moreover, 10% flexibility is allowed in the event of difficult UGS filling conditions. Thus, net injection into European storage facilities by the start of the 2026-2027 autumn-winter period must reach at least 68 bcm to meet the filling standard. In the previous year, Europe only managed to achieve a figure of around 55 bcm.
Open Questions
- Will EU countries be able to meet the 68 bcm injection target?
- What factors prevented achieving the target in the previous year?
- How will current geopolitical conditions affect gas supply?
