The occupancy rate of gas storage facilities in Germany has decreased to 36.88 percent as of January 30th. This rate was 90 percent in 2020.
As of January 30th, the occupancy rate at natural gas storage facilities in Germany has fallen below critical levels.
As of January 30th, the occupancy rate of gas storage facilities in Germany has decreased to 36.88%, according to Gas Infrastructure Europe. This rate was 90 percent in 2020.
According to the German Ministry of Economy and Climate Protection, occupancy at the facilities must be at a critical level of 40 percent to withstand extreme cold for 7 days.
A ministry spokesman said at its weekly press conference that occupancy at the country’s gas storage facilities had been reduced to “critical” and that the ministry was closely monitoring the state of storage levels.
According to the German Gas Storage Initiative (INES), there are 47 underground gas storage facilities in Germany operated by 25 companies. The total capacity of these facilities is about 25 billion cubic meters.
Germany, which supplies more than half of its natural gas needs from Russia, was vulnerable to price fluctuations and geopolitical tensions, as well as a drop in gas stockpiles.
Experts point out that deepening the Russia-Ukraine crisis could have negative energy consequences for the EU, and especially for Germany.
LNG is currently unlikely to substitute Russian natural gas, while the share of natural gas in Germany’s energy consumption is 32 percent.
