The state-owned energy company Uniper asserts that it is well-prepared for the upcoming winter when looking at its gas storage levels. CEO Michael Lewis told Politico’s Energy & Climate newsletter that Uniper proactively planned ahead for the winter despite facing challenging market conditions. “We planned our storage long-term, set clear goals, and consistently stored gas throughout the season,” he stated.
Currently, the company’s storage facilities are filled to over 81 percent. An exception is the Breitbrunn gas storage facility, which Uniper applied to permanently shut down a year ago and is currently only filled to about ten percent.
Uniper noted that even with additional incentives, it would be impossible to fully fill the storage facilities on short notice. They pointed out that filling large porous storage facilities requires several months-time that is no longer available before the start of winter.
Lewis also used the moment to comment on the broader energy landscape, saying that the currently high gas prices demonstrate how volatile energy markets can be during geopolitically challenging times. He concluded by suggesting that this situation warrants discussion about what level of energy sovereignty and additional supply security Germany should aim for in the future.
