German storage facilities hold more gas than ever before – media report

Germany has more gas stored than ever before, Table.Media reports, citing information from the association of European gas infrastructure operators, Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE). German gas storage facilities have continued to fill up even after the start of the heating season in October. On 28 October, they reached 99.2 percent capacity – not only higher than the 95 percent filling level legally required by 1 November, but actually facilities contain more gas than ever before. By mid-November last year, gas levels reached 100 percent, but storage capacity since then has increased: At 253 terawatt hours, there is around 3 percent more stored gas than at the previous high despite the lower filling level. The Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) and the economy ministry (BMWK) had expressed concern earlier this year that reaching necessary levels would prove more difficult in the summer of 2023 due to the lack of Russian pipeline gas. Low gas consumption, however, has so far helped to mitigate storage problems. Although prices have fallen sharply compared to the previous year, consumption is currently at the same level as in 2022 and around 15 percent below the long-term average.

Norway and LNG suppliers via Belgium and the Netherlands now provide most of Germany’s gas – some 90 percent, writes Table.Media. Germany’s own LNG terminals, meanwhile, have not played a major role in the country’s gas supply, the news service notes, adding that they have received much less gas than capacity allows. Germany’s LNG terminals provide only around 10 percent of overall gas imports, writes Table.Media.