MOSCOW, September 25. /TASS/. Net gas injection (the net difference between injection and withdrawal volumes) by EU countries into underground gas storage (UGS) facilities has exceeded 46 bln cubic meters (bcm) since the beginning of the summer season in April 2026, according to TASS calculations based on Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) data.

To date, Europe has managed to inject 68% of gas required for the upcoming winter into its UGS facilities. As of September 23, Europe’s UGS facilities were 70.35% full (15.68 percentage points below the five-year average for this date), compared to 82% in the previous year, which is the lowest level recorded for this date since tracking began in 2011. EU storage facilities hold around 77 bln cubic meters of gas, which is 13.3 bln cubic meters lower than last year’s levels and the lowest volume since 2013.

The European Commission requests EU members to make sure their UGS facilities are 90% full between October 1 and December 1 of each year. Moreover, 10% flexibility is allowed in the event of difficult UGS filling conditions. Thus, net injection into European storage facilities by the start of the 2026-2027 autumn-winter period must reach at least 68 bcm to meet the filling standard.