MOSCOW, February 26. /TASS/. Gas reserves in Europe’s underground gas storage (UGS) facilities have fallen below 40.5%, while withdrawal rates in February have been at a record level for this month in the past four years, according to data provided by Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE). Meanwhile injection into UGS facilities has increased amid warm weather. Europe has withdrawn over 64.5 bln cubic meters (bcm) from UGS facilities since the beginning of the heating season.
Gas withdrawal from UGS facilities in EU countries amounted to 400 mln cubic meters (mcm) on February 24, according to GIE. Pumping has fallen to 81 mcm. Gas volumes in UGS facilities total 44.7 bcm, which is the seventh-highest level for February since records started.
European UGS facilities are currently 40.3% full (11.11 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 The heating season in Europe started on October 29, 2024, with EU countries having withdrawn over 64.5 bcm of gas from UGS facilities since then.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 13% in February. The gas purchase price averaged $489 per 1,000 cubic meters in Europe in December, about $518 in January, and it has been at $554 in February.
LNG supplies from terminals to Europe’s gas transport system have been at a record level this month. Facilities for regasification of liquefied gas and its further pumping into Europe’s pipelines are loaded by 52% of their capacity now.