Brussels: The capacity rate of underground gas storage facilities in the European Union countries has fallen below 35% for the first time in over three years. This development highlights concerns about the energy supply in the region, especially during the heating season.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the capacity level of storage facilities in EU countries is currently at 34.53%. This figure represents an 11.31% decrease compared to the average capacity for this date over the past five years. The drop in storage levels comes as the EU countries have extracted more than 72 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas from underground storage (UGS) facilities since the beginning of the heating season, which started on October 29, 2024.
Reports indicate that the total volume of gas in storage facilities is approximately 38.3 billion cubic meters. The decrease in storage levels could have significant implications for energy security and pricing in the region, particularly if the demand continues to rise during the colder months.
It is important to note that since December 31, 2020, Azerbaijan has been transporting its gas to Europe through the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which is a critical component of the EU's strategy to diversify its energy sources and reduce reliance on traditional suppliers.