The gas storage facilities in the Netherlands are on average 80 percent full, which means that the European filling target has been achieved. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate (EZK) announced this on Wednesday announced. In fact, the Netherlands had until 1 November to bring the gas stock up to standard. More liquid gas (LNG) has recently been purchased than expected, albeit at high prices. Energy Minister Rob Jetten (D66) speaks of an “energy buffer for the difficult times that Europe is facing”.
It is not only the Netherlands that is well on its way to achieving the European filling targets. On average, European countries have filled their gas storages to 82 percent, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs. That does not mean that the continent is in safe waters: if Russia completely stops the gas supply, it will still lead to problems. For that reason, many European countries are also focusing on gas savings. This is going relatively well in the Netherlands, but hardly any progress in other EU countries.
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The extreme energy prices made filling gas stocks far from attractive. In July, energy minister Jetten wrote that he did not want to completely fill the gas storage facility at Bergermeer — in his own words the largest commercial storage depot for gas in northwestern Europe — because he fears that this will drive up the gas price too much. In the end he gave in: he set aside 210 million euros to fill the North Holland gas storage for 90 percent instead of the 68 percent originally envisaged.