ENTSOG: EU could fill gas storage to 90% by October

According to the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSO-G), the EU could fill its gas storage facilities to at least 90% by October even without Russian gas supplies. Record storage levels ahead of the injection season are helping. However, a complete cessation of gas supplies from Russia would require consumers to reduce their gas consumption next winter.

The level of gas storage in the EU stood at 625 TWh on 1 April, equivalent to 55% of storage capacity and more than double the level in April last year.

The record volume of gas in storage at the start of the injection season was supported by lower gas consumption resulting from a relatively mild winter, the effect of high gas prices, measures introduced by member states and the behaviour of individual users, ENTSOG says in its report.

Even without gas supplies from Russia, Europe can reach 90% of its natural gas storage capacity before next winter. Western European countries such as Belgium, Spain, France, Portugal and the United Kingdom could even fill their storage facilities to 100% by the end of September.