MOSCOW, August 13. /TASS/. Gas reserves in European storage facilities are already 13.4 billion cubic meters lower than they were a year ago, and replenishment is proceeding at an extremely slow pace, Gazprom announced.

The company noted that the gap with last year's level has widened by 1.4 billion cubic meters since the beginning of the month, and by 5.2 billion cubic meters since the start of summer.

"Replenishment of inventories in European underground gas storage facilities continues at an extremely slow pace. Meanwhile, in the Baltics, for instance, gas withdrawals have been underway since August 3 from the region's sole storage facility, Incukalns, which is currently only 45.5% full," the statement reads.