MOSCOW, March 14. /TASS/. European countries sharply increased the pumping of gas to their underground storage facilities over the past several days, though gas withdrawal still slightly exceeds the refill volumes, according to data provided by Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE).

This comes amid the recovery of wind generation and a rise in temperature in the region, an increase in LNG reserves in terminals and active gas supplies from Russia via various routes - transit through Ukraine, as well as via gas pipelines Yamal-Europe and Nord Stream.

On March 12, European gas storage facilities were refilled by 175 mln cubic meters. Gas withdrawal from European storage facilities on the same day only equaled around 196 mln cubic meters. Gas pumping surpassed withdrawal volumes in Portugal, Poland, German, France, the Netherlands, and Latvia.