Federal Economic Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) will not provide a detailed justification for the additional gas storage she mandated. In response to an inquiry by Green politician Michael Kellner, and reported by the news outlet ntv, Reiche’s State Secretary, Frank Wetzel, stated that the decision resulted from a necessary balancing act between ensuring supply security and preventing market distortion. However, Wetzel did not supply the requested explanation for the specific amount of 8 terawatt-hours of gas that was ordered.
Kellner sharply criticized the minister, stating, “Frau Reiche seems to be gambling,” noting that the Ministry cannot explain why exactly 8 terawatt-hours are being purchased. Wetzel countered the question by characterizing the volume as “a limited intervention in the market.”
Minister Reiche had previously opposed state intervention in principle, fearing that potential price spikes would occur if the government’s interest in purchasing gas were publicly declared. According to data from the Federal Network Agency, the gas storage levels currently stand at 59.4 percent. The agency, which falls under the Ministry of Economics, notes that this level is significantly lower than comparable periods in previous years. Nevertheless, the agency does not foresee an immediate danger to winter supplies, citing that gas imports remain “stable.”
This context raises questions regarding Reiche’s motive for issuing an order of this specific size during a debate that has been ongoing throughout the summer. A Green expert, Kellner, pointed out that the additional 8 terawatt-hours only represents about 3 percent of the total storage capacity. Crucially, he warned that the volume is insufficient to meet the storage targets set for November 1st, which require a nationwide fill level of around 70 percent by that date.
Further debate surrounds whether the ministry should have intervened sooner. Kellner argued that the minister’s hesitation is proving costly, estimating that if the ministry had acted in the summer, it would have saved over 150 million Euros. He added a scathing critique of her broader energy policy: “She has proven enough that Frau Reiche is incapable of dealing with renewables, but even purchasing gas isn’t working.” A spokesperson for the Ministry refuted this claim during an interview with ntv, stating that the “progression of the conflicts cannot be predicted. This also applies to price developments.”
