The federal government has admitted that it will fail to meet its operational requirements for filling several key German gas storage facilities before the winter season begins. This finding stems from a response provided by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs to a parliamentary inquiry submitted by the Green Party, as reported by T-Online. The government confirmed that for several storage sites, reaching the mandated fill levels is now “technically impossible” due to low existing volumes. This situation particularly affects pore storage facilities, which can only be charged slowly, naming Wolfersberg, Frankenthal, Inzenham-West, and Breitbrunn as examples.
Green energy politician Michael Kellner has sharply criticized Economy Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) for what he terms serious failures. He stated to T-Online that the government is now conceding that it is missing its own storage targets and that it has delayed action for too long. “Now we have to brace ourselves through the winter and hope that it isn’t too cold,” he commented, adding that it is “absurd” for one of the world’s most advanced industrialized nations to be in this position.
Kellner cautioned that this is not merely a missed target but a critical economic threat. He argued that the government’s inaction is undermining the foundations of the nation’s economy. He explained that high gas prices impact industry, potentially forcing production cutbacks, and ultimately hitting consumers. Full storage capacity, in his view, serves as the necessary security buffer, which is absent.
Taking personal responsibility, Kellner targeted Reiche, stating that she, as a minister, has sworn an oath to the constitution. Regarding the empty storage facilities, he deemed the risk-taking “negligent.” He claimed the Economy Minister is gambling that everything will be fine-that the winter will remain mild, prices won’t continue rising, and supplies from the US will persist. However, he countered that governmental responsibility is not about relying on luck; it is about solving problems.
The Green politician also expressed deep concern over the increasing reliance on US liquefied natural gas (LNG), noting that nearly all LNG imports originate from the United States. Kellner warned that Germany has become dangerously dependent on the US. “I must be perfectly clear: we are blackmailable by Donald Trump,” he stated. He continued, “What happens when Trump eventually decides not to supply us? After the dependence on Putin, we are slipping into the next dependency.”
In light of the current crisis, Kellner demanded a “gas crisis summit” involving storage operators, traders, and other market participants. He insists that the federal government must convene with storage operators and gas traders to ensure that gas is actually being stored, rather than simply booking storage capacity on paper. Finally, Kellner called for the immediate implementation of a mandatory storage requirement, arguing that the government must adjust its current storage regulations. He stressed that whoever books storage capacity must be obligated to inject the gas.
