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Post: Expert: UGS occupancy rate in the EU can reach 95-96 percent

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UGS “Reden” in Germany. Archive photo

Kolobanov: UGS occupancy rate in EU could reach 95-96% by November

MOSCOW, October 12 – RIA Novosti. Sergey Kolobanov, Deputy Head of the Center’s Department of Economy of Fuel and Energy Sectors, said that at the end of October, the occupancy level of underground gas storage facilities (UGS) in the European Union could reach 95-96% at the current injection rate. For Strategic Research calculated for RIA Novosti.

“The historical maximum overall occupancy level in the EU was reached on 27-28 October 2019 and stood at 97.84%. If the weather permits this year, 95-96% can be reached at current injection and withdrawal rates. By the end of October,” – noted Kolobanov.

However, this value is unevenly distributed – from 54% in Latvia to 100% in Belgium and Portugal. At the same time, the largest reserves in absolute terms are currently accumulated in Germany – about 22 billion cubic meters, Italy – 17 billion, France and the Netherlands – at 12 billion cubic meters each.

The heating season in countries and their individual regions does not begin immediately: somewhere has already begun, somewhere according to the plan they will turn on the heating on October 15 or November 1, and somewhere, a variable date depending on time. weather – they are waiting Kolobanov added that for several days the average daily temperature will remain below a certain level.

However, this year, as the expert noted, the leadership of EU countries is actively calling for resource savings by reducing the minimum temperature requirements at the facilities, so the timing of the start of the use of active gas from UGS plants may vary. and the withdrawal rate may decrease compared to previous years.

It should also be taken into account that in past years, even in the coldest winter months, extraction from UGSF did not provide more than 40% of the volume of consumption in the European Union. Therefore, in case of a decrease in the planned gas supply to the European Union from other countries in the next 3-4 months, gas purchase from UGS facilities may increase compared to historical values ​​and gas storage capacity will decrease by nearly 100%. The specialist who came to the conclusion that a successful autumn-winter period is by no means guaranteed.

Source: Ria

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