The occupancy rate of underground gas storage facilities (UGS) in Europe has reached 50%, but remains at the lowest level for this day since 2021, according to data from the Association of European Gas Infrastructure Operators (GIE).
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As of the end of the July 4 gas day (ended on the morning of July 5), EU countries had pumped 0.34 billion cubic meters of gas into their UGS facilities, increasing reserves by 0.31%. As a result, the total average storage capacity in the EU was 50.2 billion cubic meters of gas, or 50.03%.
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The last time the gas storage capacity was lower as of the current date was in 2021. Then the figure was 48.91%. In 2022, the UGS occupancy rate was 59.8%, in 2023 – 78.11%, in 2024 – 78.43%, in 2025 – 59.98%. Thus, the current indicator is 15 percentage points lower than the average level at this date over the past five years.
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“Amid the crisis over the Strait of Hormuz and concerns about fuel supply disruptions, the EU has decided to reduce the required level of filling of gas storage facilities in the union countries from 90% to 80% by the beginning of the winter season,” – European Commission spokeswoman Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said.
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In her opinion, the level of gas reserves in the EU does not yet cause concerns about the winter heating season, but the price situation in the market is unstable.
