EU sets gas storage target at 90% to ensure winter readiness
The Council of the European Union has extended for two years the requirement to fill gas storage to 90% before winter, its press service said on July 18.
The European Union has extended its gas storage regulations until the end of 2027, introducing more flexible conditions to help member states respond to a tense global gas market.
The rules were first adopted in 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and were initially set to expire in 2025.
While the target for filling gas storage ahead of each heating season remains unchanged, EU countries will now have a broader window — from Oct. 1 to Dec. 1 — to meet the requirement. Previously, the deadline was Nov. 1.
Under the new rules, member states may reduce storage injections by up to 10% in difficult circumstances, with the European Commission able to grant an additional 5% reduction in case of adverse market conditions. Interim storage targets have also been downgraded from mandatory to indicative.
The European Commission said the revised rules will allow countries to better adapt to market fluctuations and secure more favorable purchasing conditions, all while maintaining energy security.
The changes come amid continued efforts by the EU to reduce reliance on Russian gas and improve resilience in the face of future supply shocks.
The military war may be swinging in our favor, but the information war continues.
Just as an army needs soldiers, so does a free society need its journalists to ensure that people have access to honest, trustworthy voices to understand the world around them.
For the past five years, The New Voice of Ukraine has been working tirelessly to push back against Russian narratives and defend democracy. But we cannot do it alone.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon for just $5 a month – your donation does directly to supporting journalists and ensuring that this front of the infowar says solid and defended.
Thank you.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
