Germany appears well-prepared for the upcoming winter gas supply, according to Timm Kehler, Managing Director of the German Gas and Hydrogen Association.
Current storage levels already stand at 68 percent, he stated on Friday, noting significant refilling activity in recent days. Kehler indicated a positive outlook for further injections, citing mild temperatures and lower gas prices as contributing factors.
He anticipates that the legally mandated target of 70 percent storage capacity by early November will be not only met but exceeded, providing a sufficient reserve to address potential challenges posed by colder weather conditions.
Compared to the crisis year of 2022, Germany is now significantly better positioned thanks to new import infrastructure. Kehler also assessed the international supply situation as stable, highlighting the United States as the country’s primary supplier of liquefied natural gas. Norway remains a crucial partner, securing over 30 percent of Germany’s gas supply.
Looking ahead, Kehler expects a gradual phasing out of Russian gas deliveries to the European market due to sanctions. He believes that American and other global LNG suppliers will fill the resulting gap with flexible capacity, avoiding the creation of a new single-source dependency.
Kehler emphasized the importance of a pan-European perspective on gas supply, noting the interconnectedness of the European gas network. He explained that liquefied gas arrives not only at German ports but also through hubs in Belgium and the Netherlands. Regarding the role of the United States in the European gas market, he stated that no dangerous dependencies arise as long as no single actor controls more than 30 percent of the market share.
