The Dutch gas storage facilities are on average more than 80 percent full, reports the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate (EZK). Our country has thus achieved the European filling target for 1 November well in time. European Union countries committed themselves to this after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in order to secure energy supplies in the event that Moscow completely cuts off its gas supply to the West.
In order to absorb any setbacks, the gas storage facilities will be further supplemented. In a press release, Minister Rob Jetten of EZK calls the timely achievement of the filling target ‘all the more important now that we are once again seeing that Russia is throttling gas supplies for political reasons’. ‘We will continue to fill the gas storage facilities in the Netherlands in the coming period so that we have a buffer for the uncertain times that Europe is facing’, he adds.
The gas stock in Bergermeer (where gas for industry is stored) is now about 68 percent full. That should be 90 percent. The cabinet is allocating another 10 million euros on top of the 200 million euros that had already been set aside to entice suppliers to put their gas in storage instead of selling it now at the current high gas price.
More expensive gas price
Gas has meanwhile become more than ten times more expensive than in mid-2021, increasing the call for action in energy prices for households and companies. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently announced interventions in the energy market and will shortly present her proposals.
Russia already supplies much less gas to the EU than before. For example, the important Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany has been shut down indefinitely, formally due to a breakdown at a pumping station. Before that, only a fifth of the gas that would normally pass through Nord Stream 1 flowed to Germany. European leaders say it is political leverage and Russia is indeed saying sanctions against the country must be lifted before it supplies more gas.
The cabinet had to entice companies with substantial subsidies to fill the storage rooms. This is not attractive at the moment due to the high prices. Last month it was announced that energy minister Rob Jetten is making an extra 210 million euros available for further filling the storage room at Bergermeer in North Holland. It must then be 90 percent full.
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