Gas reserves are being filled “faster than expected” in Germany, despite drastic drops in Russian deliveries, the government welcomed on Sunday, which hopes to reach its October target by early September.
The storage target set by the government for October, 85%, “should be reached from the beginning of September,” detailed his ministry. Gas reserves currently stand at 82% of capacity, he added.
In mid-August, again, the Redes Agency, the energy regulator, was skeptical about the country’s ability to achieve these goals.
But “the precautionary measures” taken by Berlin in recent weeks, and “the massive purchase of gas” from other suppliers, have allowed “important progress”, according to the Government.
increased use of coal
Germany is heavily dependent on Russian gas and has seen its deliveries drop sharply since the start of the war in Ukraine. Gas flows have fallen to 20% of the capacity of the main Nord Stream pipeline, and the European Union accuses Moscow of using energy as a “weapon” in the dispute.
Faced with the risk of shortages, Berlin set a series of goals in July so that gas stocks reach 95% by November 1, before the arrival of winter.
To this end, the government has adopted a series of resource-saving measures, including increased use of coal, reduced consumption in public buildings and incentives for businesses.
Berlin has also released an exceptional allocation of 1.5 billion euros to buy liquefied natural gas (LNG) in order to secure its supply, in particular from Qatar and the United States.
Source: BFM TV
