Germany Orders SEFE to Add 8 TWh of Gas to Storage Amid Energy Crisis
Germany has ordered its state-owned gas importer, Securing Energy for Europe (SEFE), to boost natural gas storage levels by 8 terawatt-hours (TWh) by December 15. This move comes as Germany struggles to meet gas supply targets due to low market incentives and high benchmark gas prices.
As of September 29, EU gas storage sites were only 71% full, with major economies like Germany having lower-than-average gas stored so far this filling season. Germany's own vast storage facilities are currently just about 57% full, raising concerns about supply security if the coming winter turns out colder than expected.
SEFE was nationalized by Germany in 2022 as part of efforts to ensure energy security amid an energy crisis triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The company will now need to increase gas volumes at its storage sites and make purchases accordingly, following government instructions.