The European Commission is evaluating the possibility of extending theobligation For EU Member States to fill the gas storage up to 90% of the capacity by 1 November of each year.
The objective of the measure is to guarantee greater energy safety for EU countries. With the beginning of the new year, in fact, the withdrawal activity of natural gas And it becomes essential to reconstitute the reserves in view of next winter.
Gas supply problems
The decision to extend the obligation to fill the gas reserves up to 90% is currently currently under evaluation by the European Commissionwhich is analyzing the potential benefits and risks of a long -term gas storage policy. “A meeting of the gas coordination group is underway,” said a spokesman for the EU Commission in the press.
The commission spokesman confirmed that only at the end of the meeting of the gas coordination group will it be possible to have a clearer picture of the next measures to be taken.
The main concern is that the increase in gas consumption to meet daily needs is putting the supply of reserves at risk. In other words, if the member countries of the European Union will not be able to properly reconstitute the stocks before winter, problems could occur in the supply during the colder months.
According to the analyst Arne Lohmann Rasmussen, The major concern concerns the stability of gas prices not only in the short term, but also in a medium-long term perspective.
The increase in the demand for natural gas could trigger a new wave of prices of prices of energy raw materials and further reduce the stocks, which have reached the lowest levels ever recorded by the energy crisis of 2022, according to what is reported by Bloomberg.
The data on gas storage
According to the data updated to 11 February provided by the platform GIE AGSI – aggregate gas storagethe average filling level of gas storage in the European Union countries has currently fallen to 47.24%, corresponding to a volume of 562 TWH (Teramo), while Italy records a slightly higher percentage, equal to 57.83%, With a volume of 119 TWH.
But how is our country move? The Minister of the Environment and Energy Safety, Gilberto Pichetto Fratinhas signed a key decree to strengthen the country’s energy safety. This act provides for the anticipation of the gas supply auctions to ensure the filling of storage deposits in preparation for the winter season.
The government has adopted this measure to protect the country from market fluctuations Global energy and to prevent any speculative maneuvers that could destabilize the sector. The main objective is to guarantee a stable gas supply for the thermal year 2025/2026, making available Up to 5 billion cubic meters of reserve capacity. In this way, it is aimed at preventing surge in gas prices that could have a negative impact on families and businesses.
