Europe risks falling short of gas storage target

Europe is facing a potential shortfall in gas storage levels ahead of the winter season, with inventories remaining significantly below the five-year average.

Gas reserves in underground storage facilities across Europe reached 58.84% of capacity as of the end of the gas day on August 8, according to Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE).

The level was 16.74 percentage points below the five-year average for the same date, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

The pace of gas injections has also remained weaker than usual. Over the past seven days, average net injections stood at 269 million cubic metres per day, 22.2% below the five-year average.

Europe’s gas storage levels are closely watched by global energy markets, as the region is the world’s largest combined importer of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The EU’s underground storage system has a total working capacity of 109 billion cubic metres.

Weather conditions could add further pressure. Average temperatures this week are forecast to be above the climatic norm for this time of year, potentially increasing energy demand.

At the same time, wind generation has supplied an average of 13% of the region’s electricity needs since the beginning of August, according to WindEurope, slightly below the 14% recorded in August 2025.

LNG imports into Europe are expected to reach 6.4 million tonnes in August 2026, down 14% from a year earlier.

The combination of below-average storage levels, slower injections and warmer-than-normal weather is increasing pressure on Europe to replenish its gas reserves ahead of the winter heating season.

By Aghakazim Guliyev