Germany’s gas storage facilities filling up faster than planned – Econ Minister

BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s fuel storage services are filling up quicker than deliberate, Financial system Minister Robert Habeck mentioned, giving hope that Europe’s greatest economic system might keep away from acute fuel shortages this winter.

“The reservoirs are filling up quicker than specified,” Habeck was quoted as saying by Der Spiegel Journal, including that the federal government aim of reaching 85% storage capability by October could possibly be reached by the start of September.

Germany is at part two of a three-stage emergency plan formulated after a discount in fuel flows from Russia, its major provider.

Solely 9.5% of Germany’s fuel consumption in August got here from Russia, Spiegel reported, citing information by the BDEW energy business affiliation. Final 12 months, Russian fuel accounted for round 55% of the nation’s complete consumption.

The federal government had focused fuel storage ranges of 75% by Sept. 1 however the storage ranges are already at 82.2%, business information from European operators group GIE confirmed on Sunday.

“Firms will then have the ability to withdraw fuel from the storage services as deliberate over the winter to additionally provide business and households,” Habeck mentioned.

Liquefied pure fuel (LNG) can also be anticipated to stream to Germany by way of France after the 2 nations resolved organizational and technical points to ease provides, Spiegel reported, citing a doc from the Financial system Ministry.

(Reporting by Riham Alkousaa; Modifying by Hugh Lawson)