Gas storage in the city port of Gelsenkirchen (symbol image) Photo: picture alliance / SvenSimon | Malte Ossowski/SVEN SIMON
From BZ/dpa
The Federal Network Agency considers it possible, under certain conditions, that a gas emergency can be avoided in the coming winter.
This emerges from the agency’s latest catalog of scenarios, which was published on Monday.
One variant describes the measures necessary from the point of view of the authority, assuming that the Nord Stream 1 Baltic Sea pipeline will continue to be used at only 20 percent of its maximum capacity until June 2023, as is currently the case. In order to prevent a gas shortage in the coming winter, in addition to a 20 percent reduction in consumption, a 20 percent reduction in transit volumes to neighboring countries would also be necessary.
If the German gas storage facilities are also to be 40 percent full by February 1st and the supply is to be secured for next winter, the model also means that the import capacities for liquefied natural gas, for example, must be increased. According to the federal government, the first LNG terminals should go into operation as early as next winter.
In the event of a so-called gas shortage, demand exceeds supply. After proclaiming the highest level of danger in the gas emergency plan, according to the existing rules, the Federal Network Agency would then allocate the natural gas still available according to need.
According to the Federal Network Agency, even assuming that no more Russian natural gas flows to Germany, a shortage in the coming winter can still be avoided. However, the transit volumes would have to be further reduced if there were no increase in imports. In all zero percent scenarios, however, there will be supply problems next winter 23/24 without additional countermeasures such as higher consumption reductions.