According to reports from Gazprom’s Telegram channel, Europe is currently depleting its gas reserves in underground storage facilities (UGS) at an unprecedented rate. This rapid depletion poses significant risks for the upcoming winter energy season.
The record pace of extraction began on November 19th and continued without a major break throughout the week leading up to late November, even as Gazprom highlighted that consumption during this period is traditionally lower due to weekend slowdowns.
Data from Gas Infrastructure Europe confirms these alarming trends. The highest daily gas withdrawals ever recorded in the history of monitoring occurred specifically on November 24th, 25th, and 26th. Germany experienced a particularly sharp decline, seeing its UGS occupancy drop by several percentage points within just five days prior.
The total volume of actively available gas across European storage facilities currently stands at 78.1 billion cubic meters – approximately 10.6 billion less than the same stage last year.
Gazprom has issued warnings regarding this situation, stating that low reserve levels negatively impact the performance characteristics of UGS fields and heighten potential risks for ensuring adequate energy supplies during winter months.
