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EU gas storage near full as bloc prepares for winter

European Union nations have actually nearly filled their gas storage as the bloc prepares for winter and the potential interruption of Russian gas shipment through Ukraine, data showed on Wednesday.

Gas storage facilities across the 27-country EU are 90%. full, marking the 2nd year running in which the bloc has hit. its 90% filling target in August - well in advance of a November. deadline, the European Commission stated.

Germany, which has the most significant storage caverns of any EU. country, has filled them to 93% of capability. The majority of EU members. with storage websites have actually filled them to above 90%, data from Gas. Infrastructure Europe showed.

Russia used to provide around 40% of the EU's gas before the. 2022 Ukraine war, after which Russian deliveries plunged and. Europe raced to change dependence on Moscow with more gas from. nations including Norway and the U.S.

Europe deals with a prospective additional loss of Russian gas this. winter season, as a transit agreement to provide Russian gas to Europe. via Ukraine is due to end at the end of the year.

The EU has said it will not press Ukraine to extend this. contract, and has actually stated nations can do without these. shipments, which amounted to around 15 billion cubic metres (bcm). in 2023, out of overall EU gas usage of 295 bcm.

Europe's last winter was generally mild and had low energy. demand, which left storage relatively complete previously this year,. reducing the job of refilling depleted caverns throughout summer season. Stored gas is called on throughout Europe's coldest months when. need for heating peaks.

It's a combination of a really significantly higher starting. point of storage and lower need, Jacob Mandel, senior. partner at Aurora Energy Research study, said of existing storage. levels.

The GIE information revealed a very different scenario in Ukraine,. where gas storage is simply 23% complete.

Mandel said the dangers caused by the war and the high cost. for Ukrainian companies to import gas have actually curbed the nation's. ability to develop storage reserves.

Ukrainian energy facilities have likewise come under almost. daily bombardment in recent months, triggering blackouts, as the. war grinds on following Russia's full-blown intrusion in February. 2022.

EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson called on Wednesday for. Europe to supply the essential assistance to Ukraine's energy. system to assist the nation prepare for a hard winter.

(source: Reuters)