MOSCOW, July 31. /TASS/. European countries’ underground storage facilities (UGS) are more than 85% full, according to data from Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE). With the current injection rate is maintained, Europe can fill UGS facilities to the target 90% by the heating season as early as in August.

European UGS facilities are now 85.37% full (15 percentage points higher than the average as of this date in the past five years), with more than 93 bln cubic meters of gas stored in them.

Earlier, European Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said that Europe hopes to fill gas storage facilities by 90% by November.

The rate of gas pumping into underground storage facilities (UGS) in Europe in July is 26% lower than last year and one of the lowest in recent years.

Total liquefied natural gas (LNG) receipts in the EU are close to all time high, while gas price is around $319 per 1,000 cubic meters.