MOSCOW, April 23. /TASS/. Daily rates of gas pumping into Europe’s underground gas storage (UGS) facilities have increased to the highest level since August 2024, and its total value in April is the highest for this month in the last three years, according to Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE). However, the level of stocks in underground gas storage facilities in April is still 40% below the level of the previous year. LNG imports by Europe in April continue at a record pace.

Gas pumping into UGS facilities in EU countries amounted to 332 mln cubic meters (mcm) on April 21, according to GIE. Withdrawal has increased to 22 mcm. Withdrawal in April has been 12% lower than in the previous year, while pumping has been 1% higher. Gas volumes in UGS facilities total 40.8 bln cubic meters (bcm), which is 40% lower than in the previous year.

European UGS facilities are currently 37.32% full (10.49 percentage points lower than the average as of this date in the past five years) compared to 62.25% in the previous year. The European Commission requests EU countries to make sure that their UGS facilities are 90% full by November 1 of each year for ensuring elevated reserves for the winter period to be prepared for interrupted supplies or abnormally cold weather.

The share of wind generation in the EU’s electricity output averaged 17% in March, and it has been 15% this month. The gas purchase price averaged about $467 per 1,000 cubic meters in Europe in March, and around $416 in April.

LNG has been supplied from terminals to Europe’s gas transport system with record rates in April. Facilities for regasification of liquefied gas and its further pumping into Europe’s pipelines are loaded by 60% of their capacity now.