Gas storage levels in the EU reached 63.8% by the end of August
European countries have injected less than 40 billion cubic meters of gas since the start of the season, which is significantly below the average of previous years.
Yulduz Salimov2 min read
Updated: August 28, 2026 11:21 pm
According to data as of August 28, the fullness level of underground gas storage (UGS) facilities in European Union countries stood at 63.8%. This figure is 17.24 percentage points below the five-year average and the lowest recorded for that date since 2011. In annual terms, the volume of reserves decreased by 14.3 billion cubic meters to 69.7 billion cubic meters, which is the lowest level since 2013.
Since the start of the summer season in April 2026, the volume of net gas injected into European storage facilities has exceeded 39 billion cubic meters. According to calculations based on data from Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), only 58% of the volume needed to meet the requirements of the upcoming winter has been injected so far.
According to European Commission requirements, storage levels must reach 90% by the start of the heating season (the period from October 1 to December 1). To achieve this target, EU countries must ensure the injection of at least 68 billion cubic meters of gas. However, current injection rates, which hit a low in July and accelerated slightly in August, pose a risk that the season will end at 70–75%, which would be a historical low.
The dynamics of filling UGS facilities were affected by several factors, including competition with Asian countries for liquefied natural gas supplies against the backdrop of the Middle East conflict, as well as rising fuel prices. The abnormal heat observed in June and July created additional pressure, leading to a sharp increase in electricity consumption for cooling and air conditioning systems, where gas is used as a major energy source.
Earlier, Gazprom predicted that gas reserves in European storage facilities might not even reach 75% by the start of the heating season. In the event of difficult conditions for gas injection, EU regulations allow for a 10 percentage point flexibility threshold in fulfilling target indicators.
Source: tass.com
