Economy Minister Robert Habeck said Germany’s gas storage facilities are filling up sooner than planned, and he hopes Europe’s biggest economy can avoid a severe gas shortage this winter.
“Reservoirs are filling up faster than specified,” Habeck told Der Spiegel Magazine.
Germany is in the second phase of a three-step emergency plan drawn up after the flow of gas from its main supplier, Russia, has dwindled.
Citing data from the BDEW Electricity Industry Association, Spiegel reported that only 9.5% of Germany’s gas consumption in August came from Russia. Last year, Russian gas accounted for about 55% of the country’s total consumption.
The government had targeted gas storage levels of 75% by Sept. 1, but storage levels have already reached 82.2%, industry data from European operator group GIE showed on Sunday.
“Then the company will be able to recover the gas from the storage facility as planned during the winter and supply it to industries and households,” said Habeck.
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is also expected to flow to Germany via France after both countries work out organizational and technical issues to facilitate supply, Spiegel said, according to an economy ministry document. Quoted and reported.
