Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register FRANKFURT, Aug 14 (Reuters) – German natural gas storage facilities were just over 75 percent full last Friday, a few weeks ahead of target, data from European utilities group GIE showed on Sunday. Germany has 23.3 billion cubic meters (bcm) of underground natural gas storage, more than a fifth of the 100 bcm of natural gas used in 2021. The Rehden storage unit, which contains 4 bcm, was 54% full, GIE data showed. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Germany is in the second phase of a three-stage emergency plan formed after gas flows from Russia, its main supplier, were cut. This is causing serious headaches for German industry, which accounts for a quarter of the country’s natural gas demand. Russia has drastically cut flows to Europe through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline since mid-June and is currently supplying only 20% of agreed quantities, blaming faulty and delayed equipment, while Europe says the move is politically motivated . The government had set a target for natural gas storage levels to reach 75% by September 1. The next targets are 85% by October 1 and 95% by November 1, which are embedded in a series of provisions aimed at helping Germany avoid a gas crisis in the winter of 2022/23. The provisions include higher imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and incentives to reduce energy use. read more Separately, German gas market operator THE is due to announce on Aug. 15 the size of the levy on the price of natural gas to consumers, to help Uniper ( UN01.DE ) and other importers cope with rising prices. read more Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Reporting by Vera Eckert Editing by David Goodman Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
