MOSCOW, February 5. /TASS/. Gas reserves in Europe’s underground gas storage (UGS) facilities have fallen below 52%, with LNG supplies from terminals to pipelines having hit a record level in February, according to data provided by Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE). Meanwhile total gas volumes in UGS facilities are still at their fourth-highest level for early February since records started. Europe has withdrawn around 51 bln cubic meters (bcm) from UGS facilities since the beginning of the heating season.
Gas withdrawal from UGS facilities in EU countries amounted to 761 mln cubic meters (mcm) on February 3, according to GIE. Pumping was down at 13 mcm. Gas volumes in UGS facilities total 57.7 bcm, which is the fourth-highest level for the beginning of February since records started.
European UGS facilities are currently 51.97% full (7.39 percentage points lower than the average as of this date in the past five years). The heating season in Europe started on October 29, 2024, with EU countries having withdrawn around 51 bcm of gas from UGS facilities since then.
The share of wind generation in the EU’s electricity output averaged 21% in January, and around 9% on first days of February. The gas purchase price averaged $489 per 1,000 cubic meters in Europe in December, about $518 in January, and $565 in early February.
LNG supplies from terminals to Europe’s gas transport system have been at a record level in February. Facilities for regasification of liquefied gas and its further pumping into Europe’s pipelines are loaded by 54% of their capacity now.