Filling gas storage facilities is not economically viable. German operators call for fees to be scrapped

German gas storage facilities are at their lowest fill level ahead of the coming winter for this time of year since records began. Storage operators’ association Ines has therefore called on the government to take swift action to increase the economic incentive to replenish them. Among other measures, it proposes a full waiver of grid fees for storage facilities and the abolition of the conversion fee. According to the association, current market prices give traders virtually no reason to buy and store gas ahead of winter.

According to data from German grid regulator Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA), German storage facilities were only 54.3% full as of 5 September. This is the lowest level for this time of year since monitoring began in 2011. The situation is problematic not only in Germany but also in the wider European context, where inventories are likewise at historically low levels.