Gazprom has almost doubled gas stocks in European underground storage facilities for the current winter period compared to what it usually stores, the Russian gas giant said in a report.
“Gazprom’s capacity in EU countries, including own and leased capacity, could be raised to 8.79 bcm active volume by the 2017-2018 winter, plus there is 1.6 bcm at the Incukalns UGS. Maximum daily gas withdrawal rate from UGS in EU countries in the 2017-2018 season will be 168.9 million cubic meters, plus 16 mcm from Inculkans,” Gazprom said.
Back in the middle of summer, Gazprom only planned to pump 5.03 bcm of gas into European UGS and to withdraw 83.3 mcm at most.
Gas withdrawals from UGS in EU countries in the 2016-2017 season came to 4.7 bcm with another 1 bcm taken out of Incukalns.
“In order to ensure reliable gas supplies to European consumers in the winter period, we have signed additional short-term agreements to secure access to additional underground gas storage capacity in Hungary, Austria and Germany,” the Russian gas giant said in a memorandum for a new Eurobond offering.
The net injections season lasted until October 30 this year. It was longer only in 2013, when it finished on November 3.
Moreover, data from European pipeline operators suggest Gazprom could go on injecting gas into European storage facilities.
