Gas reserves in Europe’s underground gas storage (UGS) facilities have fallen below 40.5%, while withdrawal rates in February have been at a record level for this month in the past four years, according to data provided by Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE). Meanwhile total gas volumes in UGS facilities are at their seventh-highest level for February since records started. Europe has withdrawn more than 64 bln cubic meters (bcm) from UGS facilities since the beginning of the heating season, APA reports citing TASS.
Gas withdrawal from UGS facilities in EU countries amounted to 335 mln cubic meters (mcm) on February 23, according to GIE. Pumping has increased to record 116 mcm. Gas volumes in UGS facilities total 45.1 bcm, which is the seventh-highest level for February since records started.
European UGS facilities are currently 40.6% full (11.05 percentage points lower than the average as of this date in the past five years). The heating season in Europe started on October 29, 2024, with EU countries having withdrawn around 64 bcm of gas from UGS facilities since then.
The share of wind generation in the EU’s electricity output averaged 21% in January, and around 13% in February. The gas purchase price averaged $489 per 1,000 cubic meters in Europe in December, about $518 in January, and it has been at $559 in February.
LNG supplies from terminals to Europe’s gas transport system have been at a record level this month. Facilities for regasification of liquefied gas and its further pumping into Europe’s pipelines are loaded by 48% of their capacity now.
